A staff member at Baros Island Resort has claimed to have witnessed three staff members throwing stones at one of the four men who invaded the resort wearing balaclavas last Wednesday, as the intruder was standing on the jetty.
The body of 20 year-old Ali ‘Immortal’ Shafiu was later was later discovered floating dead in the lagoon. Staff restrained another of the intruders, while two others were found and arrested by police.
Friends of the deceased who were present at Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) when his body was brought to the hospital claimed to have seen wounds on left hand and left side of his chest, and a wound on his head one and a half inches deep.
Shafiu’s family members later told local newspaper Haveeru that they had seen wounds on different parts of the body, however police would not confirm the injuries claiming the investigation was ongoing.
“That day early in the morning my colleagues came and shook me awake saying thieves had invaded the resort,’’ the staff member told Minivan News, on condition of anonymity.
‘’I ran to the jetty and saw staff throwing stones at a person waiting at the end of the jetty. I saw him falling into the water, I think he was knocked unconscious and fell,’’ the staff member said.
“His body was in the water – it had no movement at all, I was worried and told them to pick him up.”
Staff did not retrieve the body and the body was left in the water for more than 30 minutes, the source said.
‘’His body was floating on the water like a log. Someone who had not seen the body falling would think that it was a log. There was no movement at all.’’
The staff member said that police arrived on the island and took the body from the water.
“His body was as hard as rock when he was taken out of the water, and suddenly white foam came out from his mouth,’’ the staff member said. “The police then took the body for examinations.’’
The staff member said that later that day, before staff realised that they might be subjected to revenge attacks, many staff were claiming to have attacked Shafiu.
“They were not intending to kill him, but after they knew he was dead they rejoiced,’’ the staff member alleged. “But later the three staff who led the attack on Shafiu started receiving phone calls and threats that they would be sorry.’’
After they received these calls, those who claimed have hit Shafiu suddenly claimed to have not even touched him, the source alleged.
“Later I asked my colleagues who had found the intruders first. They said it was the security officers who saw the four of them, and they went and called the Maldivian staff members,’’ the staff member said.
At a press conference this afternoon, police that they were now investigating the cause of three wounds to Shafiu’s head.
Inspector Abdulla Nawaz also said that police have discovered the boat which was allegedly used by seven men – only four of whom landed on the island.
Weapons were also discovered inside the boat, Nawaz said, including swords and a harpoon gun.
”Police have now arrested the other three men, who include the captain of the boat,” he said.
Police said the four persons found in the resort had allegedly damaged the resort’s accounts department in a bid to to steal the safe inside.
”The safe contained US$50,000 at that time,” said Nawaz. ”We are investigating whether the seven men had any connections with a persons working in the resort.”
He also said that the body of Shafiu was ”apparently dead” when police took him out of the water.
”Police officers who attended the scene observed that there was no movement and the body was very hard,” Nawaz said.
General Manager of Baros Island Resort and Spa, Jonathan Blitz, was on his day off when Minivan News called the resort, however a senior staff member said the resort was unwilling to comment as the police investigation was ongoing.
“It was early in the morning and we are still not clear what happened,” he said, expressing concern that the original Minivan News article on the incident had been posted on the TripAdvisor website “and guests were commenting.”
Baros was the second Maldivian resort this year to suffer an attempted robbery by people from outside the island.
In Janurary, staff at Kihaadhuffaru in Baa Atoll were threatened by a group of masked men brandishing machetes and swords, who escaped in a dingy with the resort’s safe.
A receptionist was reportedly gagged with tape and restrained with a cable tie during the incident.
Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said at the time that he did not believe resorts would need to review existing security measures in light of the Kihaadhuffaru theft.
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Staff members knew thats ‘Immortal’ guy. I think thats why they left him there. Just to make sure his really immortal.
Thee staff member who made this allegation is the accomplice of the gang who was the "inside man" at the resort. Police should question him to find out more about this incident. Well done to the staff at the resort for defending themself and doing the job the Police should be doing.
The intruders had weapons with them. The staff would have acted in defense. In most countries trespassers are shot. People talking Human Rights, and every other person who was not in that situation would have an opinion about this, talking about whats RIGHT and WRONG, saying the poor boy should not have been attacked etc, should bring him to justice through the courts. Well, unfortunately this country does not have a system that protects anybody, neither the victim or the criminal. So, in this particular case, there is nobody to blame other than the armed invaders. If he stayed home being the good boy he is, none of this would have happened.
Yes, agree with Rid. If he stayed at home, he would still be "immortal". Wearing gloves and masks and raiding a resort aren't exactly life enhancing exercises and he paid the ultimate price.
It's quite likely that he died from injuries sustained due to self defence by resort staff.
Let this be a lesson for wannabe resort bandits.
I share the sentiments of the other who have commented above.
The "Immortal" guy and his gang buddies are to blame. The staff have displayed extreme bravery in facing armed gangs carrying swords and harpoons with only rocks as self-defense. Acting in self-defense is a legitimate right under our Constitution (like other countries.)
When Law enforcement authorities are unable to control such gangs, it is common to see the public taking up arms in self defense and some times resort to vigilante action in many countries.
I commend the brave staff of the resort for being so alert and for acting in time to prevent a major catastrophe.
Who knows, this gang might even have taken some guests hostage.
This could have turned out really different for Maldives. It could have affected every citizen of this country. Imagine this…. In one of those villas in Baros, there was J Lo, enjoying her dream vacation in the Maldives. Suddenly her villa is broken into by some dickhappy Maldivian robbers, after seeing J Lo all naked the buggers go bonkers and rape her ( Good thing her butt is insured for millions ). They finish up with her, tie her and steal her money/jewelry and disappear. It is not worth mentioning that the police would not find the culprits. Weather the culprits are found or not it doesn’t matter. The first thing J Lo does is after she frees herself is to update her Twitter and facebook status even before she calls security or anybody from the resort management. The rest is history. All the major news channels, online sites, magazines, radio TV shows will have it has breaking news. And this news is going to stay for a while. It would be like pandemonium around the world, after all this is about J Lo. Hollywood, Bollywood and Mollywood will boycott Maldives, followed by world governments and travel bodies advising against travelling to Maldives because it is considered unsafe for tourists. Even a temporary halt in the arrival of tourist to Maldives will bring this country to its knees. Tourism is what keeps this country going economically, and money is what drives everything.
This would be the end to the big fat salaries of the parliamentarians, end to our businesses, end to regular Lavazza coffees, end to daily dosage of Kasauti soap shows on cable TV, end to our ignorant lifestyles riding around town without a worry with our fancy motorbikes flashing out our iphones. When the economy collapses, the social structure will fail. No US Dollar means no money to import food, like rice and sugar or anything for that matter. Soon it would be a fight for everyday survival. The stronger will survive. It will be in chaos. You will ultimately turn out to be a thief and a murderer yourself in order to survive and to provide for your family. Like how it is in Somalia now. No matter how civilized you think you are, when it comes to this we all are animals. You think this is impossible? Think again.
OK. I admit that it may be a bit farfetched but still, I wonder how many people sense the seriousness of the issue. Well, like I said the outcome of the incident would have really been different for us, it is unfortunate that a young lad had to lose his life, but I would have to say, I am more at ease with this outcome rather than a situation that would lead to a similar outcome like the scenario I stated. I believe much more should be done really soon to prevent similar incidents from happening in this country. I fear for the worst.
Rid i agree with u
if he was that good he would never be there at that time of the night...
It is time that HEP Nasheed gave permission to the police to use small arms like pistols to confront armed gangs.
Only "Rajapakse Style" decisiveness can deal with this menace.
Armed MNDF personnel should be posted to the resorts to provide effective security to resorts.
Looks like most of Maldivians are some sort of mentally retard. What on earth there can be any comments on this incident? It was said that some misguided and unfortunate people tried to rob a Resort. There was no reason to attack in this Islamic stoning style to some guys who did not have any arms to put any one in danger. Now people who are enjoying the death of a Human being must be some sadist maniacs.
Looks like most of Maldivians are some sort of mentally retard. What on earth there can be any comments on this incident? It was sad that some misguided and unfortunate people tried to rob a Resort. There was no reason to attack in this Islamic stoning style to some guys who did not have any arms to put any one in danger. Now people who are enjoying the death of a Human being must be some sadist maniacs.
I agree with the latin popstar's comment above.
This country is teetering on the edge of a deep, dark precipice.
IF (please note the conditionality) was even on a distant dirt road towards a billion-light-year highway to democracy, then the Minister of Home Affairs, National Security & Tourism would have been forced to resign in shame.
MATI was justified in their reaction to this and similar headline related to armed robbery at resorts. The current interpretation of democracy has failed. The constitution is still a serviceable document, albeit with continued amendment, BUT the authorities implementing the democratic agenda have failed and failed miserably.
The current administration is hellbent on consolidating and holding power for the glorification of a "wronged" clan (you know who you are). They have resorted to covering up their failures, hushing critics and exaggerating minimal successes to the point of sounding like boastful children.
We all spout nonsense slogans like "implementing Shari'ah will stop gang violence", "President Nasheed is good but his cronies are bad" and "Gayyoom is to blame for the defaults on my mortgage". The truth is Shari'ah cannot solve what mismanagement, inequity and poor education has wrought, President Nasheed is responsible for each and every action that his appointees take and Gayyoom is just one leader among a string of self-serving despots (one of whom was given a state burial).
This is an alarming incident to the whole nation. The gang violence that is escalating in the domestic context is endangering our vulnerable economy. These ruthless culprits involved in these serious crimes won't have any worry to risk any lives of tourist. I agree with the comment of "Rid" and those responsible in the authority - the executive, the judiciary, the parliament - should proactively deal with this serious issue of youths penetrating into serious crimes. More effective rehabilitation should commence at an early stage, probably from the school life, if any noticeable delinquency's are observed. Rehabilitation should come in different sizes and different forms compatible for different ages before these youngsters deviate from their behavior. But sad to note that our politicians are too apathetic.
@Anbar what an asshole you are. I am sure your comment would be very different if same thing happens to you. I hope soon you will learn your lesson. You maybe one of those people who earn money by robbing. You dont have to prove that.Do you?
I think the staff member who gave information must be the leader who organised the raid. Otherwise how would they know where the safe is and they should come and which way. When the mission failed he maybe dissatisfied also he must have given the phone numbers of those security guards to the gang. Otherwise how could they know their numbers. Its very coordinated attempt. I am sure there must be very clear link between the informant and the gang....
Agreed with most of the comments. The staff did what police is failing to do on the streets of Male'. When the recent murder occurred, it has been confirmed by reports that police were watching helplessly as a person was being stabbed to death by people wielding swords, knives, axes and whatnot.
The justice system in the country has failed miserably. If nobody is going to step up, and clean up this mess before things spiral out of control, then we are headed for a very dark future.
Nice job. Justice served! Our court system has failed. This is the only way to control these people.
@ J Lo
could not have said any better. Thanks.
Failure of the justice system, proven again.
Yes. Protect yourself.
In this case, If you had not, it would very likely be a turned table, and the headlines would say, 'Resort worker harpooned to death, by gangs'.
Security guards at resort should be given rubber bullets or real bullets to shoot on sight!
We can't let these gangsters ruin everything for us! Shoot them! It's self defense, if they stayed home then they would have suffered the consequences.
everyone has a right to self defence. they confronted night intruders with stones- best they could do in the circumstances. I doubt that they could have paused & say " excuse me sir, are you here to rob this resort, if so please leave before we call the police". It is not the intruders who have human rights, the people on that resort had a right to life too.
I would have loved to read all your comments on an instance when the robbers pulls it off with 50000 dollars plus may be J Lo too ...
The courts have failed miserably in this country. But we have to lay blame on the executive and the parliament also. We need a tougher home minister who will deal with this gang violence and theft issues, and a parliament that is serious about passing all the bills needed, like the evidence bill and so on.
But the majority of the blame lies with the courts that seem to be endlessly involved in some deal here or there which allows criminals to roam around freely.
DPRS also needs to be reformed.
Only the police seems to be doing an ok enough job when it comes to these issues.
We the citizens are fed up of seeing criminals walk free all the time.
Armed intruders MUST be stopped at any cost. This will not be murder but self-defense.
This should be a lesson for armed intruders.
This is More like Watching a CSI Episode
Why are you guys not writing about Mp Aadhil's case , and why are you not writing about those Webcams.
Minivan news akee minivan nooheh noon.
If we have an even remotely functioning judiciary or even a law to convict these people I would have said it was unacceptable. But in the absence of any form of official punishment to the sort of people, what has happened has to be said as natural justice. I will not call the robbers victims of this saga and nobody should...
The threat has to be matched by the detterent. It would be a good idea to arm the police officers to confront armed gangs in Male' and elsewhere.
Is it me or does this story sound like it could be a subplot to a Monty Python movie?
Anbar, ur a retard (thats all)
Seriously, good on you baros for dealing with the scum, and all those hippies moaning about human rights and all , i couldnt give a *&%$. the state of crime in this country means i cant even walk down my street without fear of being mugged.
If a brave politician sorts out this mess, i think hell get elected for the next president 😛
@musician Now who to blame for such violent behavior that Maldivian have by nature. It is obvious that the Maldivian are violent by nature. This violent nature was subdued in the past due to fear of oppression and isolation. Once these two criteria removed their true nature revived. And with accumulation of ignorance, lack of socially rich cultural environment has worsened the situation. Guy, go to the root cause of the problem rather than shouting and behaving like ignorant
The victim deserves it. This is a lesson for other thieves.
If the staff member saw the other staff hitting the guy, why did he not stop it. He says he saw the person being knocked off the jetty unconscious. So why keep him there for 30 mins? I guess even he did want the person dead.
Ok, I know what they came to do was not good and it should not be allowed but killing a person is much worse than being robbed or robbery.
I don't know why no one else was trying to stop the stone throwing or whatever they were doing to kill the man...and the worse thing is these three staff won't be charged for anything while the robbers would be punished for their actions.
As for the police using pistols as one of the comments above: Are you crazy? These police ppl have no clue how to use them and they do it for vengeance. Have you not seen how they still beat up people just because they have authority.
They are no better than these gangsters, just that they are in a uniform and we cannot question their precious authority.
We should not try and make justice on our own.... we should fight together to change the justice system because in the end if we bring justice in our own hands we will be the people who would get screwed.
Anbar, whos being ignorant, i was stating facts where Maldivian streets are not safe anymore.
"There was no reason to attack in this Islamic stoning style to some guys who did not have any arms to put any one in danger. Now people who are enjoying the death of a Human being must be some sadist maniacs."
when the system fails to properly lock up criminals these incidents are going to happen, its called self defense. i think its ignorant of someone to say that the resort workers actions aren't justified, it was just unfortunate for a person to die
This is such a pity. These resort workers are GUILTY!
cos
They should have killed the rest of the robbers!
pretty sure that all the people like anbar would act in the same manner if put in the same situation. Your safety against a robbing "immortal"...
Don't get me wrong, being ex Police I believe in (NON SHARIA) punishment for offenders, but this is justice Maldivian style? Stoning a defenceless man in the sea and leaving him to drown or die of his injuries? The laws of the jungle prevail. Or is this in accordance with peaceful Islam? There should be a murder investigation in progress.
@Derek Postance,
I disagree with you. These gangs rob, steal, beat up, stab and kill people, including foregners, in Maldives. So far the have not served time for their crimes through the justice system. I do not condone deliberatly killing another person. However, it is quite obvious that this is probably an accident during the course of self defence. Maldivians instictivly pick up stones as a form of self defence.
This has nothing to do with Sharia (which is not even enforced strictly in Maldives) but self defence. Your comment spells "ignorance" in bold letters.
Usually the TEAM members on resorts ACT under direct instructions from Ahmed Easa. I wonder if TEAM and Easa had a role in this self-defensive-murder.
These robbers obviously came to the island armed and were prepared to hurt or kill people on the island, have a look at haveeru: http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/35573
The weapons you see are not toys they can easily kill somebody.
This staff member who has spoken to the press has shamed himself. He is a traitor and should be kicked out.
Death Wish!
These thieves came with intent to harm the staff, have you seen the weapons siezed by the police on Haveeru?
These thieves were prepared to use these weapons on the staff, they were prepared to wound or even kill them this is unjust.
The thieves picked the fight by coming to the island. The staff protected their livelihoods and should be rewarded.
A strong message has to go out to all would be thieves that they need to think twice before trying to rob an island.
i think the media is trying to compete with one another here...yesterday Haveeru showed a article with weapons ragaridng baros and now minivan wants to compete with this by showing an opposite argument...cant anyone take this matter seriously?
come on the guys were armed with swords and spear guns...i think i would also have joined them...its a survival instinct. and the guy who gave this interview...why didnt he jump in to save the immortal? and he has too much information. he sounds like the inside man...
maybe he wanted shafiu dead, he invited these idiots to rob the resort and then alerted the staff...and etc etc...who knows.
It is a pity not all of the thieves were stoned to death in this instance. The police should not investigate the cause of the wounds on the dead body of mr immortal. he deserves every inch of that wound. Well done the staff of the resort. and I guess the other resorts should be now well on alert for robbers liek this. Maldivians are becoming like the somali pirates now.
It is pity that people are so naïve and ignorant, we are talking about 4 individuals facing 400 staff in an Island surrounded by sea. What self defense these guys are talking. The Maldivians are frogs in the well. Everything in the Maldives are taken in it is literal form Nothing can be weighed in a real life situation. Didn’t they have a better choice than killing a person to apprehend him? The fact is, killing is so cheap in this tiny Islam following Islands whether it is for a criminal or an average person, killing is condoned by everyone. Is it so called religion of Islam make these people so irrational?
its not right leaving him unconcious to die for 30 minutes in water after they injure him...he was not confronting them and was trying to flee form the scene for better & we should have taken him out of the water and given him medical support on emergency basis and if we have done it like that it could have saved his life and his family members sadness...its time we stop blaming each other and try to solve problems with wisdom intelligence and maturity and with peace...war will always create war in return & there is no end to war if so & dont u thik its better we deal with things in a more civilized manner!!!
@Jlo - what you've said is not far fetched. It could happen any day now. We badly need a new leader. President Nasheed, contrary to initial expectations has proven to be incapable of dealing with the real problems in the country. Pathetic..
Anbar, how do you know that the staff "killed" him, were you there, no you were not. you are clearly the one who is naive and ignorant if you believe everything in the press. The police have not yet confirmed what the cause of death was. maldives is an island nation, fact the facts. Does that mean that any island in the maldives should not defend itself just because the thieves do not have the luxury of an easy getaway, are you insane? I guarantee you that any thieves who try to rob a house or whatever on a locally inhabited island will meet the same sort of reception. The fact is that the thieves should not be there in the first place. I do not know where you come from but perhaps you should go back there if you do not like the fact that thieves are not allowed to do as they please. Male is lawless enough without this crime spilling over to islands and good for them if they defent themselves.
And furthermore, why bring religion into it. It is not a question of religion but of common human sence. Did you see what weapons they were carrying???
If President Nasheed wants my vote again, he better clean the streets and get rid of these scum. And do it soon.
Until now the innocent majority of the public have been patient in spite of their frustration.
If the concerned authorities are unable to deal with these armed gangs attacking and killing people at random and with impunity and all these organized crime, then I am afraid the citizens will no longer wait and hope for a miracle.
We do not need a death penalty to deal with this menace. It can be done quicker.