Category: News in Brief

Police close 125 cases in September

Police concluded investigations and forwarded 125 cases to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) in September.

According to police statistics, of the 907 cases reported to different departments last month, 270 were reported to the property crimes department, 254 to the capital police, 144 to traffic police, 78 to the serious and organised crime department, 68 to the fraud and financial crime department, 53 to the drug enforcement department and 40 to the family and child protection department.

The fraud and financial crime department closed and sent 33 cases for prosecution while capital police closed 25 cases. The serious and organised crime and child and family protection departments each closed 17 cases. Drug cases sent for prosecution meanwhile numbered 12 followed by one case of traffic violation.

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Parliament to investigate alleged violation of MPs privileges

MPs voted 32-26 in favour of a proposal by Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed to investigate a supposed violation of MPs special privileges by a group of social activists who put up posters of MPs across Male’ with their phone numbers.

Under the proposal voted through yesterday, the parliamentary Privileges Committee has been tasked with conducting an inquiry into the alleged violation and decide whether to ask police for an official investigation.

Last week, Riyaz submitted a motion without notice claiming that a civic action campaign against controversial Rf20,000-a-month committee allowances approved last year violated MPs’ special privileges.

A loose association of concerned citizens and members of local NGOs launched a campaign in late August after parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) decided to issue a lump sum of Rf140,000 (US$9,000) as committee allowance back pay for January through July this year.

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September incomes topple August

Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has released figures showing that the state earned Rf269.6 million more in September than in August, when income was reported at Rf260.7 million.

Altogether, MIRA collected more than Rf500 million (US$32 million) as income through September.

Resort rents accounted for the largest amount of income received (Rf196.4 million). Tourism Goods and Services Tax (T-GST) came in at Rf71.9 million.

Nearly half of the state’s dollar income which goes through MIRA comes from tourism rent payments (US$12.8 million).

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Indian national caught with drug-filled suitcase

Indian national Lata Kumari Govindaran, 46, has been arrested for possession of 1.05 kg of cannabis.

Govindaran arrived in the Maldives last Wednesday with the drug hidden in her suitcase’s double bottom, reports Haveeru. She had also visited the Maldives last Ramadan.

Customs told Haveeru that Govindaran had been arrested on suspicion of drug possession during a security check and screening upon arriving in the country.

Govindaran traveled alone and no one else has been arrested.

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Prices must be public: Economic Development Ministry

Shops are required to publicly identify items exempt from the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Economic Development Ministry has ordered.

The ministry also requires businesses that charge GST on their goods and services to display their Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) registration certificate.

Unregistered businesses may not charge GST and wholesale and retail prices should also be viewable.

Businesses that violate these regulations will be fined between Rf500-10,000. A second offense will incur a fine between Rf5,000-10,000.

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PPM to officially create party this month

Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) will hold an official party creation meeting on October 15. The party is headed by former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

PPM interim spokesperson MP Ahmed Mahloof told newspaper Haveeru that the meeting’s agenda includes electing an interim governing body, endorsing the party logo, flag and manifesto, and finalising the party’s charter.

The Maldives’ political parties regulation requires 300 members at a registration meeting. On September 20, PPM applied for registration with 3,600 signatures.

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President inaugurates Male’ City greenery programme

President Mohamed Nasheed inaugurated a city council programme last week to plant trees in the congested capital city for “a greener, shadier, and more peaceful Male’.”

Speaking at a ceremony on Thursday, President Nasheed underscored the progress of the government’s flagship “Veshi Fahi Male'” housing programme, revealing plans to build more flats in an additional six areas of Male’.

Under the greenery programme meanwhile, the city council plans to plant 600 trees on both sides of the main thoroughfare Majeedhee Magu.

While the Indian High Commission has donated 10,000 trees, the council has also been receiving donations from islands, individuals and businesses.

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Northern Utilities Ltd. heads home

President Mohamed Nasheed has relocated the Head Office of Northern Utilities Ltd. to Felivaru of Lhaviyani atoll.

The relocation of this and other utility head offices is meant to bring service providers closer to their clients, the people.

Under a current relocation plan, the government is moving head utility offices from their Male’ bases to the provinces they serve.

In his speech at Felivaru on Thursday, President Nasheed noted that the seven utility companies established in the country’s seven provinces had been successful, and thanked directors and board members of Northern Utilities Ltd. for their efforts.

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