Six expatriates arrested for kidnapping Maldivian man over unpaid wages

Police have taken six expatriates into custody after they allegedly kidnapped a Maldivian on a resort construction site in Alifu Dhaalu atoll.

In a statement issued today, police said that on March 19, a group of 31 expats working on the island created unrest in the island over what it is believed to have been an issue concerning unpaid wages.

Six expatriates who led the unrest then assaulted Maldivians working on the island and kidnapped the Maldivian head of staff, said police.

Officers working in the nearby Mahibadhoo police station and Dhangethi police station conducted a joint operation and raided the island.

According to police, the Maldivian man was tied when officers went to the island, and freed by police at about 1:34pm.

During the police raid, officers discovered iron bars, wooden planks, machetes and box cutters inside the rooms in which the expats were living.

Furthermore, police said that all those taken into custody were Bangladeshi nationals aged between 25 and 35.

When Minivan News contacted police for further information, police media official said they were not providing details of the case as the investigation was ongoing.

Last month, police freed a Bangladeshi national that was kidnapped by two compatriots in Malé, being locked inside a room in Galolhu without water or food for am extended period.

When police searched the room, officers discovered a knife under the pillow of one arrested in connection with the case.

Later the police found out that the victim and the two arrested persons were illegal expats and did not have identifying documents.

On March 9, police also arrested a Maldivian man from Addu Atoll on allegations that he had assaulted two of his expatriate staff.

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Man arrested for smuggling drugs into Dhangethi Island

Police have arrested a man on charges of attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the island of Dhangethi in Alifu Dhaalu Atoll.

According to police, the man was aged 26 and was arrested on October 27 whilst he was inside a boat that arrived at Dhangethi from Male’.

Police said that when he saw the police officers he threw a pack of cigarettes into the sea which police subsequently discovered to contain illegal drugs inside it.

Dhangethi island police are investigating the case.

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Police arrest three men in connection with rape of Indian teacher on Dhangethi

Additional reporting by JJ Robinson.

The police have arrested three men in connection with the rape of an Indian teacher on the island of Dhangethi in Alifu Dhaalu Atoll, a source with knowledge of the investigation has confirmed to Minivan News.

‘’The three men were arrested and have been taken to the island of Mahibadhoo in Alifu Dhaalu Atoll,’’ the source said. None of the men arrested were over the age of 23, he added.

The incident occurred on Sunday (February 10) – some time between 2:30am and 2:45am, the source said.

“The victim was taken to Mahibadhoo Hospital where she is being treated for the injuries she suffered from the incident. There was blood all over her room when the police attended the scene,” Minivan News was told.

The source said the three men were accused not only of raping the 25 year-old computer teacher, but of stealing her mobile phone, an Acer laptop, and MVR 9000 (US$583) in cash.

‘’She lived alone in a big house consisting of three rooms. The suspects may have climbed over the wall to get in,’’ the source said, adding that the victim had not spoken to anybody following the incident.

Police Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef confirmed to Minivan News this morning that there had been some “developments” in the investigation, and that police would be releasing a statement.

“She is in hospital recovering and is getting better day by day,” he said.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs meanwhile told a press conference of Indian journalists on Tuesday (February 12) that the Indian High Commission in the Maldives was investigating the matter.

“Apparently the lady in question works in a private computer school in the Maldives. She was also badly injured. She has been given blood transfusion, and her condition now is stable,” the MEA spokesperson said, adding that the Indian government had contacted the Maldives’ acting Minister for Human Rights, Gender and Family, Dr Mariyam Shakeela.

“The High Commission [on Tuesday] morning sent two officials including a lady officer to the atoll to try and provide whatever support we can on account of this sad happening there. We have taken it up quite strongly with the government of Maldives, and we hope that justice will be done in this case promptly,  and this has been assured to us by the concerned Maldivian authorities,” the MEA spokesperson said.

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