Police have arrested two persons in connection with a case where two men sexually abused a minor, filmed her and then leaked the video online.
According to the police the case was reported on August 20, 2013.
Police stated that the pair were both aged 27 and were arrested on 24 August while on the island of Naifaru in Lhaviyani Atoll.
Naifaru Magistrate Court has extended their detention period to 15 days.
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(0)The second round of training for police’s quick response teams for handling the peace in Male’ has concluded.
The teams, who are charged with maintaining peace and stability during next month’s presidential elections, underwent special training between August 17 and 10.
Forty police officers participated in second program, the police said, after 20 completed the first section of training in June.
In what has been dubbed Operation Blue Waves, additional officers are currently being posted throughout the atolls to ensure calm during the election period.
(0)Dislikes(0)The High Court has ordered the arrest of the manager of Guraidhoo island’s (Thaa Atoll) state-owned utilities company.
Fenaka Corporation employee Ahmed Fuad was previously arrested in connection with two cases of child sex abuse but was released by Thimarafushi Magistrate Court when brought before the judges to extend his detention period.
A police media official today said that the case was appealed at the High Court after Thimarafushi Magistrate Court ordered his release.
‘’Yesterday the High Court cancelled the release order and issued an arrest warrant and extended his detention period to 15 days for investigation,’’ police media officer said.
“He was arrested at about 3:05pm yesterday,’’ the officer continued.
At the time he was arrested police told the media that the charges related to charges of molesting two minors, a male and a female aged 13 and 17.
Local media outlet Sun Online reported police as telling the paper that the two minors had testified against the accused during the hearing held to extend his detention period in Thimarafushi Magistrate Court.
Local newspaper ‘Haveeru’ reported that the victims are believed to have been in the guardianship of Fuad, who was also reported as being a senior activist in the government-aligned Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
(0)Dislikes(0)An elections security expert being provided by the Commonwealth to consult on strategies for maintaining law and order during next month’s presidential polls has met with Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz in Male’ yesterday (August 25).
Police confirmed today that the Commonwealth Secretariat has assigned Eldred de Klerk to assist with ensuring election security was in line with “international best practices”, following a request by the institution for assistance.
With voting scheduled to commence on September 7, de Klerk met commissioner Riyaz yesterday to discuss his consultancy role.
The Commonwealth announced last week that Former Prime Minister of Malta Dr Lawrence Gonzi would serve as the head of a 17 member group of election observers representing the intergovernmental organisation. The group will be arriving in the Maldives later this month.
The group, constituted by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, is mandated to “observe and consider all aspects of the electoral process” on September 7 to ensure it is held in compliance to agreed standards for fair polling.
(0)Dislikes(0)The government has appointed Education Minister Dr Asim Ahmed as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs following the death this week of Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla.
Dr Samad, 67, was pronounced dead yesterday (August 25) at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, where he had been undergoing kidney dialysis.
The late foreign minister had been admitted to the hospital in critical condition on August 20 after suffering a severe heart attack. He had undergone heart bypass surgery 15 years ago.
“On behalf of the government and people of the Maldives, and on his own behalf, President Waheed extends his heartfelt condolences, at this time of national tragedy, to the family of the late Dr Abdul Samad,” read a statement from the President’s Office.
“The President recognises Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla’s sincere services to the government and the people of Maldives, especially as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, in strengthening diplomatic relations with other countries,” the statement added.
Dr Samad has served in numerous roles for both the Maldives Health Ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
(0)Dislikes(0)The government has decided to offer a new special scholarship under the name of late Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla.
Dr Samad passed away this Sunday while undergoing treatment after kidney dialysis at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. The 67 year-old died during treatment at 1:05am Male’ time on Sunday morning, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Dr Samad was first admitted to intensive care on August 20 in a critical condition after suffering a severe heart attack. The 67 year-old had undergone heart bypass surgery 15 years ago.
In a cabinet meeting held on today (25 August), the government decided to hold a special ceremony in appreciation of Dr Samad’s services to the country. Funeral prayers were conducted in every mosque in the country today after Asr Prayers.
Cabinet members noted that Dr Samad was a very honest courageous person and had proven his capacity as the Foreign Minister who had faced the toughest time while in office.
(0)Dislikes(0)Owners of 1000 flats provide under the Veshi Fahi Male’ (decongestion) project will face disciplinary action if found to have violated an agreement on leasing their property, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has warned.
The HDC has expressed concern that some flat owners were believed to have violated their agreements by leasing their properties to third parties without first having fully completed outstanding payments on the flats, local media has reported.
Local media also reported that advertisements have appeared online to lease properties recently sold under the Veshi Fahi programme.
According to Sun Online, the HDC has warned that any property owner leasing a flat provided under the Veshi Fahi scheme before fully completing payments to the corporation was in violation of their lease agreement.
The corporation said it would not be responsible for any losses to a proprietor or tenant incurred as a result of disciplinary action taken against them over a breach of contract.
(0)Dislikes(0)Despite the heat generated by various political parties in the campaign, there have been no major incidents of violence and it looks that the elections will be gone through smoothly on September 7, writes Dr S Chandrasekharan for the Eurasia Review.
The Election Commission has wisely decided to start polling earlier by 7.30am itself and conclude by 4:00pm. The idea is to minimise possible disturbances that often occur after sunset and this I believe has been done on the advice of police.
The police have generally been alert and the Police Commissioner has given detailed instructions on ‘do’s and don’ts’ on the election day. These efforts are laudable. The only jarring note that I noticed was the statement issued by the Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz that the police will continue to refuse any orders they decides are “unconstitutional”.
Who is the Police Commissioner to decide whether the order is unconstitutional or not? This statement has intrigued the political parties, particularly the MDP which has declared that its main task is to reform the police, military and the judiciary.
Riyaz is a post coup appointee and is also a person who was actively involved in the overthrow of President Nasheed. So is the Defence Minister and my concern is- Will they accept the election results in the event the present regime does not come to power? Will they create a constitutional crisis?”
(0)Dislikes(0)Mariyam Habeeb has secured a seat on the island council of Nolhivaram in Haa Dhaalu Atoll in a by-election held today as a candidate for the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
Habeeb won the election with 434 votes, while Jumhoree Party (JP) rival Ismail Naseer coming in second place with 379 votes, according to local media.
PPM Spokesperson Ahmed Mahloof told Sun Online that today’s by-election victory was the 18th to be secured by the party since local councils were formed in February 2011.
Mahloof maintained that PPM’s record in council voting indicated the party would secure victory in next month’s scheduled presidential election, refuting claims of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) that it will win during a first round of voting.
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