Category: News in Brief

PG charges Shahum with terrorism through gang violence

The Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office has charged Ibrahim Shahum Adam with terrorism through gang violence, alleging that he murdered 17 year-old Mohamed Hussein and 21 year-old Ahusan Basheer.

Haveeru reported that Shahum denied the charges and again asked for time to find a lawyer.

Shahum was recently sentenced to a year in prison for attacking a student in an Imam course they were both studying. If convicted on terrorism, he faces execution, banishment or life imprisonment.

Haveeru reported that following today’s hearing, Shahum threatened journalists present that “you should consider your own safety.”

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Bridge needed between Male’ and Hulhumale’, says President

President Mohamed Nasheed has said it is necessary for the government to built a bridge connecting the islands of Male’ and Hulhumale’ to improve transportation and development on both islands. This statement was made after the President presented documents of guarantee to flat recipients in Hulhumale’, as provided by the Veshi Fahi Male’ de-congestion program.

The President said a ferry system was insufficient to accommodate the growing populations on both islands.

The Veshi Fahi Male’ housing project is expected to add 10,000 flats to Hulhumale’. 8,000 flats are currently being constructed.

2500 flats were said to be built under Phase 2 of the Gulhifalhu development project, which is set to begin next month, reported the President’s Office.

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Cooking oil containers washing ashore in northern atolls

Hundreds of cooking oil containers have washed ashore in islands of Haa Dhaal and Shaviyani Atolls in the north of the Maldives, reports Haveeru.

While a fishing boat from Shaviyani Kanditheemu recovered 256 20-litre cooking oil containers and two 200-litre oil barrels, according to Island Councillor Abdul Habeeb, over 100 containers washed ashore on the Naagoshi Resort currently under development in Haa Dhaal Atoll.

Meanwhile Sun Online reports that fishing vessels of Haa Dhaal Nellaidhoo found five 200-litre oil barrels and 40 20-litre cooking oil containers while four oil barrels and 50 oil containers washed ashore on Kulhudhufushi.

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EPA report chronology unclear, claims Champa Moosa’s lawyer

An Environment Protection Agency (EPA) report on alleged illegal dredging and reclamation on Kaafu Thun’bafalhu was not clear whether it took place before or after environmental regulations came into force, Azima Shukoor, lawyer for Champa ‘Uchoo’ Mohamed Moosa, claimed in the Civil Court on Monday.

Azima Shukoor, former Attorney General, is contesting that the EPA violated the constitution and the Environment Protection Act by imposing a fine on Champa Moosa.

In June, the EPA labelled Champa an “environmental criminal” for irreversibly damaging the island of Thun’bafushi and the marine ecosystem of Thun’bafalhu and fined Moosa the maximum penalty of Rf100 million (US$6.5 million) for conducting dredging and reclamation works in the area without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

According to newspaper Haveeru, Azima argued in court that the island or sandbank was leased to Champa Moosa in 1992 while regulations under the Environment Protection Act of 1993 requiring EIAs was put in place in 2007.

Azima further claimed that the EPA provided its report to Champa with chapters missing, depriving the local business tycoon of his right to fully answer the charges.

State Attorney Usham Ahmed however said that the island was leased to Champa in 1997 and read out the first letter sent from the EPA noting the illegal activities on the island and ordering a halt to it.

“When she says they do not know what was done illegally, I don’t know how to make this any clearer,” Haveeru quoted Usham as saying.

Usham said that the EPA met Champa on numerous occasions and offered him opportunities to answer the charges, adding that the report was made available to Champa’s legal team four days after it was requested. Usham noted that Champa Moosa did not request the report before the EPA decided to impose the Rf100 million fine.

Judge Mariyam Nihayath adjourned the hearing after announcing an additional trial date to consider the full EPA report before delivering a judgment, which is reportedly due on September 27.

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BML suspends Vilingili branch employee for alleged fraud

An employee at Bank of Maldives (BML) in the Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Vilingili branch has been suspended on allegations of fraud.

The bank did not identify the employee to the press.

A person from the island told Haveeru that the employee had allegedly sent a forged letter to the branch manager in the account owner’s name, requesting that Rf 2,000 (US$130) be transferred to another account.

It is believed that the money was transferred to the account of one of the employee’s friends.

The fraud came into light when the account owner’s mother went to the bank to withdraw Rf 2,000 only to find that the amount was not available.

“When the bank told her that the account did not have that much cash in it she objected, stressing that her child had deposited the amount. The employee was suspended after the bank tracked down the transaction,” the person said.

In a statement forwarded to Haveeru, the bank said employees found responsible for the fraud had been suspended and that the bank, like any other bank in the world, sometimes faced cases of staff fraud.

“But given the millions of transactions made at the bank annually, the numbers of fraud cases are considerably less compared to global rates of such incidences,” the statement read.

The statement further noted that the mechanism necessary for customer protection is fully established at the bank and that a system, which allows the tracking of transactions and all customer-employee exchanges, is accessible at all times.

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Kaadehdhoo airport given to Island Aviation Services for development

Kaadehdhoo airport in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll was today handed over to Island Aviation Services Limited (IAS) for development.

A special ceremony was held to mark the occasion after a cabinet meeting scheduled for this afternoon in Gaaf Dhaal atoll Thinadhoo, reported Haveeru News. The government is also considering a proposal to offer IAS an island for resort development.

Cabinet discussions at Thinadhoo today were said to address development programmes planned for Thinadhooo and Upper South Province.

President Mohamed Nasheed was said to inaugurate Thinadhooo Development Corporation this evening before leaving the island.

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Decentralisation Act puts Male’ mosques under council control

Male City Council plans to take responsibility for city mosques by next month, Haveeru reports.

The plan is said to be in accordance with the Decentralisation Act. Mosques and cemeteries in Hulhumale and Villimale will also be under the council’s remit.

A management plan for the Islamic Ministry is currently being drafted by the council, reports Haveeru . The plan would allow the council to manage the Imams and administrative workers.

The council is also discussing taking over the Islamic Centre, which it claims is one of its remits under the Decentralisation Act.

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Police recover safe stolen from West Park restaurant

Police have recovered a safe stolen from West Park restaurant this morning and apprehended six suspects.

According to the police website, a capital police patrol in the area grew suspicious and took the group of men into custody at about 7:30am. A taxi cab and a motorcycle used by the group were also impounded by police.

Police have recovered all items reported stolen from West Park.

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Two economic reform bills sent to committee

Two bills of the government’s economic reform package were sent to committee for further review at today’s sitting of parliament.

While the amendments to the Land Act was approved 37-34, the mortgage bill was approved narrowly with 37 votes in favour and 36 against.

The government’s economic reform package includes 18 pieces of legislation, which would introduce direct taxation, excise import duties for most commonly-used items and facilitate ease of doing business.

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