Police request prosecution of 27 year-old male over traffic collision death

Police have concluded an investigation into a collision that left a woman dead in Male’ last month, requesting the state prosecute a 27 year-old male accused of driving the motorcycle that had struck the vehicle on which she had been riding.

In a statement issued today, police said they had requested the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) charge 27 year-old Ahmed Gassam from Naifaru in Lahviyani Atoll over his role in the collision that led to the death of Aishath Anwar, also 27.

On May 6, 2013,  police alleged that the bike which Gassam was riding collided with another bike near Coffee Corner on Buruzu Magu.

Police said that incident occurred at 12:38am.

The Maldives Motor Vehicle Act states that in the case of traffic collisions resulting in death, a suspect accused of carelessness while in control of a vehicle should face criminal charges.  In such a case, the suspect is required to face the punishment outlined under the Islamic Sharia, while also  having their driving license withheld for 10 years if found guilty.

Police previously identified the woman who died in the collision on May 6 as Aishath Anwar, 27, from Thinadhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.

Aishath Anwar died in a hospital in Sri Lanka on 11 May 2012, five days after the collision.  She had been receiving treatment for severe injuries sustained to her head at the time of her death.

Local media at the time quoted Anwar’s family of accusing Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’ of being unable to provide her with prompt and proper treatment.

Anwar was admitted to IGMH after the accident, before being transferred to Sri Lanka for further medical treatment.

Her family were quoted in media as claiming doctors at the Sri Lankan hospital had said that the chances of saving Anwar’s life would have been high has she been brought to the country earlier.

The family alleged at the time of there being a delay in transferring Anwar from the Maldives to Sri Lanka as a result of the unspecified actions of IGMH hospital.

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