A decaying corpse found 20 miles off the coast of Raa Atoll Alifushi Island yesterday has now been buried on the island.
The Maldives Police Services said necessary samples were taken from the body before it was buried.
The corpse was sighted at 5:40 pm and buried at 11:45 pm yesterday.
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(0)Six companies have expressed interest in building an airport on Lhaviyani Atoll Felivaru, the Transport Ministry has said.
Regional Airports Director Sami Ageel said the six parties include three domestic companies and three companies from Kuwait, Sri Lanka, and the UK.
Transport Minister Ameen Ibrahim has previously said the government would allow the winning company to establish a resort on Lhaviyani Atoll Madivaru. The government wants a 1,800 meter runway at Felivaru, he said.
(1)Dislikes(0)The Fuvahmulah island court has sentenced Ahmed Nadheer, 33, to 18 years in jail for sexually abusing two girls.
Nadheer was charged under the Child Sexual Abuse Act with the crime of sexually abusing the two girls while in a position of authority on multiple counts between May 2012 and February 2013.
He confessed to the charges at court. He was convicted on February 5.
The Maldives Police Services said Nadheer has previously been convicted of assault on two occasions.
(1)Dislikes(0)The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) has announced preliminary results for eight constituencies in Malé in ongoing primaries to determine candidates for the People’s Majlis election.
The governing coalition had allocated 49 out of 85 seats for the PPM. Candidates in 13 constituencies won the party ticket by default, and an additional five candidates were awarded the ticket after their contenders failed to gain more than 75 percent in the vetting process.
The PPM is to hold primaries for the remaining six constituencies today.
In Malé, state owned Maldives Broadcasting Corporation’s (MBC) reporter that Aishath Liza won the ticker for the Medhuhenveiru constituency. Film producer and writer Fathimath Nahla defeated footballer Ali Umar to win the ticket for Machangoalhi Uthuru.
TV presenter Aminath Namza lost the Galholhu Uthuru constituency to Maheel Ali Jaleel.
Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmed Rifau ‘Bochey’ won the Maafannu Dhekunu ticket against footballer Shah Ismail.
Asma Rasheed won the Maafannu Medhu constituency against Deputy Home Minister Mohamed Hanim – Asma is the mother of Minister of Presidential Affairs Mohamed Hussein Shareef.
Former goalkeeper of VB Sports Club Mohamed Sinan won the Maafannu Hulhangu ticket, while Hassan Ziyath won the Hulhuhenveiru ticket. Abdulla Shinan won the Machangoalhi Dhekunu primary.
The PPM is yet to announce results for 17 constituencies, but results circulating on social media indicate incumbent MP for Thimarafushi constituency Mohamed Shareef successfully defended the party ticket.
However, MP Mohamed Rasheed (Matrix Mode) who recently defected from the opposition to the PPM appears to have lost the Addu City Hithadhoomedhu ticket to former MP ‘Hiyalee’ Mohamed Rasheed.
In southern Addu city, Ali Ibrahim won the Hithadhoo Uthuru ticket and Mohamed Shahid won the Hulhudhoo ticket. Ali Ibrahim won the ticket for Hithadhoo Uthuru.
The Fuvahmulah Atoll Council President Ali Fazad won the Fuvahmulahmedhu ticket.
PPM lawyer Mohamed Waheed won the ticket for the Kaafu Atoll Thulusdhoo constituency against Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Naif Shaukath.
Mohamed Latheef won the Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Faresmathoda constituency against Deputy Home Minister Ahmed Siddiq. Saud Hussein won the Gaaf Alif Atoll Villingili ticket and Abdulla Mohamed won the Gaaf Dhaal Madaveli primary.
Ahmed Thoriq won the Felidhoo ticket while Jameel Usman won the Gemanafushi ticket. Abdulla Nazim won the Hinnavaru ticket and Jaufar Dawood won the Raa Atoll Ungoofaaru ticket.
The JP has assigned candidates for all 28 seats without primaries. All eight incumbent MPs as well as former Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz have received the party ticket.
The MDA held primaries in late January for two of the nine constituencies reserved for the party. The party ticket was awarded to two incumbent MPs and a further two candidates won the ticket by default.
The religious conservative Adhaalath Party has also announced it will field five candidates in constituencies reserved for the JP.
The AP has condemned the coalition’s decision to exclude the party from the constituency allocation.
(1)Dislikes(0)The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) has begun primaries for 25 parliamentary constituencies today.
Voting is proceeding smoothly in Malé at Dharubaaruge, Thajuddeen School, Malé City Hall and the PPM’s ally Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) party offices, PPM Secretary General Mohamed Zuhair said.
Over 2,700 members had registered to vote in Malé, Zuhair said, adding that the only complaints the party had received so far related to registration.
Parties in the ruling coalition allocated 49 of the 85 People’s Majlis seats to the PPM, 28 seats to the Jumhooree Party (JP) and nine seats to the MDA.
The party ticket was initially awarded to 13 candidates due to a lack of contestants. The 13 included eight incumbent MPs.
Over 150 candidates applied to contest the remaining 36 constituencies. But only 92 candidates were chosen for the primaries.
Applicants were graded on a six point criteria that included the extent to which candidates uphold party ideology, the length and type of service to the party, experience in parliament and participation in the presidential campaign.
Only candidates who received over 75 points were allowed to contest.
Five candidates – including four incumbent MPs – were awarded the party ticket on Friday after their competitors failed to meet the 75 percent threshold.
The PPM said it will hold primaries for the remaining six constituencies tomorrow.
Vilimaafannu MP Ahmed Nihan who won the party ticket by default said some members had complained of the party leadership favoring one candidate over the other.
“Holding primaries is not easy. For any party. But I do not expect any major issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, local media have reported conflict has emerged between the PPM and MDA over the Gahdhoo constituency. The seat was initially allocated to the MDA, but the party decided not to field a candidate and to instead back incumbent MP Zahir Adam.
Zahir was recently suspended from opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) after he violated a three-line whip and voted for President Abdulla Yameen’s cabinet in December.
Following MDA’s decision not to contest the Gahdhoo constituency, PPM called for applicants for primaries. According to local media, the MDA has ordered the PPM to retract the announcement.
Polls will close at 10:00pm tonight.
Applications must be submitted to the Elections Commission by February 11. Parliamentary elections are set for March 22.
(1)Dislikes(0)The Supreme Court issued an order Thursday night instructing “all relevant state institutions” to expedite the appointment of a new Prosecutor General (PG).
The apex court order (Dhivehi) noted that the constitution did not envision the post remaining vacant and stipulates that it must be filled within 30 days of a vacancy.
Referring to the “principle of necessity” and the importance of the criminal justice system continuing to function to ensure rule of law, the Supreme Court also ordered trial courts to accept and proceed with cases submitted by the Prosecutor General’s office.
Following the lapse of the 30-day period for the parliament to appoint a replacement for former PG Ahmed Muiz, the Criminal Court decided to halt all ongoing cases pending the appointment.
Muiz submitted his resignation on November 25 last year, shortly before parliament was set to debate a no-confidence motion against him.
In late January, Deputy PG Hussain Shameem wrote to the Supreme Court seeking its assistance in resolving the dispute.
Shameem told Minivan News at the time that there were more than 150 cases at the office that needed to be filed at the Criminal Court, including cases of suspects held in pre-trial detention.
“So what do they do now, it would not be fair to keep them in there until the parliament comes back to work from recess after three months and appoint a new PG,’’ Shameem said.
On December 10, President Abdulla Yameen nominated his nephew Maumoon Hameed to the post of Prosecutor General.
The nominee was forwarded to parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee for review.
The committee’s chair, MP Ahmed Sameer – who recently defected from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party to the government-aligned Jumhooree Party – told newspaper Haveeru shortly after the Supreme Court issued its order that the vetting process was stalled due to lack of cooperation from political parties.
While a committee meeting scheduled to take place during the ongoing recess to interview the nominee was canceled upon request by pro-government MPs, a second attempt to hold the meeting was unsuccessful because MDP MPs opposed it.
“I am ready to hold the meeting even tonight if they request it,” the MP for Haa Alif Dhidhoo was quoted as saying.
(1)Dislikes(0)The last week’s headlines were dominated by the stabbing of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Alhan Fahmy in a Malé cafe.
After flying to Sri Lanka for prolonged surgery to repair spinal damage, the Feydhoo constituency MP’s family revealed he will face a hard struggle if he is to regain the full use of his right leg.
The attack was swiftly condemned both internationally and domestically, with fellow MP’s pointing the finger at local gangs and their political paymasters.
Despite his attack, Fahmy remained determined to contest in the Majlis primaries, despite the MDP refusing to hold a re-vote in the Feydhoo party primary. After losing the poll, Alhan had questioned the fairness of proceedings and will now contest as an independent.
Controversy also accompanied a number of other MDP primaries, with Kendhoo constituency candidate Mauroof Zakir considering a legal response to what he considered to have been irregularities stemming from the party’s abandoned polls in late January.
Kaashidhoo incumbent Abdulla Jabir, meanwhile, retained his place on the party ticket after the MDP’s disciplinary committee found party regulations did not permit his removal, despite his repeated defiance of the whip.
The MDP’s talismanic leader, Mohamed Nasheed, this week told Minivan News he was confident in the transparency of the polls. Discussing the two years since his removal from the presidency, he noted that the current governing coalition would struggle to provide political stability.
Following the completion of its primary races, Nasheed revealed that his party’s legislative agenda for the 18th Majlis would include strengthening local government, reforming the judiciary, and eliminating barriers to development.
Nasheed’s doubts over the unity of the current coalition appeared well-founded this week as the religious Adhaalath Party announced it would be openly competing with the Jumhooree Party (JP) in five parliamentary constituencies, while talks with the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) continue.
The PPM’s selection of candidates for the poll continued, after party members in Maavah constituency, Laamu Atoll, demonstrated against the apparent award of the ticket to the current member without a primary.
After assigning 13 of its 49 places on the ticket without contests, the PPM is holding primary polls for an additional 27 seats today (Saturday 8), with the method of allocation for the remaining 9 yet to be decided.
Progressive coalition partner the JP meanwhile concluded selections for its 28 allocated constituencies, which includes eight incumbent MPs and new member Abdulla Riyaz – former commissioner of police.
One person who is unlikely to be standing in the March 22 polls is Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party MP Dr Abdulla Mausoom. As Minivan News’ series of interviews with MPs continued, Mausoom described the occupation as no longer “savvy”.
Legal interpretations
The Majlis continued to hold special sessions this week to help the government raise revenue to meet its 2014 budget commitments, including the reintroduction of tourist bed tax and the raising of T-GST in November. Changes to current import duties were also passed.
Following the Criminal Court’s continued recalcitrance after the Majlis’s failure to approve a new prosecutor general, the Chief Justice this week suggested that parliament take some time during the current emergency sessions to resolve the issue.
PPM MP Ahmed Mahloof also suggested that he would submit a motion to the house, calling for a public referendum on the death penalty to be held alongside the parliamentary elections.
Asked about the practice of female circumcision this week, Figh Academy Dr Mohamed Iyaz Abdul Latheef endorsed the practice, citing several hadiths which he felt made clear the obligatory nature of this procedure.
Elsewhere, local heritage group REVIVE announced it would be considering legal action after a centuries old mosque in Malé was demolished to make way for a modern replacement.
Finally, as crime figures in the country revealed a huge spike in cases of theft and robbery, a local drug lord appeared to have evaded punishment, leaving for Sri Lanka part-way through an 18 year sentence.
(3)Dislikes(0)A diver reported lost on February 4 has been sighted at 100 meters off the coast of Kaafu Atoll Villingili Island.
The Maldives National Defense Forces (MNDF) said it is currently holding discussions with expert foreign and local divers on retrieving Mohamed Jameel’s body.
Mohamed Waseem was among the last to see Jameel alive. Waseem told local newspaper Haveeru that he had noticed Waseem diving to an unsafe depth and had cautioned him not to do so.
Jameel, Waseem and a third man had been diving to catch live fish at the time.
(1)Dislikes(0)The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) officially launched its parliamentary elections campaign at a rally in Malé last night.
Addressing supporters at the carnival area of the artificial beach, former President Mohamed Nasheed said the party was once again facing an election with “many new experiences” and “renewed courage”.
“The Maldivian Democratic Party has made a proposal to the Maldivian people. This party has brought hope of another way for the people – the hope that they could find housing, provide healthcare for their children, provide education for their children, travel easily from one place to another, and [the hope] that the Maldivian people will have social security,” he said.
The party’s aim was to fulfil the hopes of the Maldivian people, he added, pledging to “take you to the ‘Other Maldives.'”
“It is going to be 100 days since the Maldivian government changed the way the Supreme Court wanted. The people of our country can see very clearly how things transpired during the past 100 days. They said they will create 90,000-odd jobs but our people were watching when posts were divided among family members,” Nasheed said.
The Progressive Party of Maldives-led (PPM) coalition government has not formulated policies or launched any projects to spur job creation, Nasheed claimed.
“Building flats has stalled and they’re saying loudly that there’s no money for land reclamation,” he continued. “We are seeing the [public] transport system come to a halt. Going from one island to another for medical treatment or to visit relatives has once again become difficult.”
The MDP government’s policy of shifting schools to single sessions, which Nasheed contended was responsible for year-on-year improvements in the O’ Level pass rate, has been discontinued, he added.
Moreover, infrastructure projects in the atolls, such as construction of harbours and provision of electricity and waste management services, have also ceased, Nasheed said.
Nasheed argued that development projects remained stalled because senior government officials were working in their self-interest.
During last year’s presidential campaign, Nasheed had maintained that a power sharing arrangement to form a coalition government was incompatible with the presidential system envisioned in the Maldivian government.
Nasheed went on to call on the public to “vote for the scale [MDP logo]”.
“Vote for the scale to reform the judiciary. We are asking the Maldivian people to vote for the scale to not let the powers of the state be merged. We are asking the Maldivian people to vote for the scale to guarantee social security,” he said.
The former president expressed confidence that the MDP would secure a “comfortable majority” in the upcoming parliamentary polls scheduled for March 22. The party is contesting all 85 constituencies.
At last night’s rally, 84 of the party’s candidates for the People’s Majlis were brought on stage to read out a declaration pledging loyalty to the party.
The MDP’s slogan for this year’s campaign is “Vote for the scale for separation of powers.”
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