Category: News in Brief

No intention to reverse decision to charge 15 year-old with fornication: PG’s office

The Prosecutor General’s (PG) office has “no intention” of reversing the decision to charge a 15 year-old child abuse victim with fornication, local media has reported.

An official from the PG’s office told local newspaper Haveeru that the decision to charge the 15-year-old from Shaviyani Atoll Feydhoo with fornication was made after extensive assessment of the case.

Back in June 2012, the same minor – a school student at the time – gave birth to a baby later discovered buried in the outdoor shower area of a home on Feydhoo.

The discovery led to the arrest of four people, including the 15 year-old girl’s mother and step father.

Haveeru reported that as the charges filed against the girl have no connection with the buried baby case, the PG’s office had no intention to withdraw the charges.

“So far we have no intention of reversing the decision to charge her at the Juvenile Court,” a PG’s official was quoted by local media.

Speaking to Minivan News on January 9 the Prosecutor General (PG’s) Office confirmed it had pressed charges against a 15 year-old girl from the island of Feydhoo in Shaviyani Atoll for having “consensual sexual relations”.

A spokesperson for the PG’s Office said the charges against the minor were unrelated to a separate case against the girl’s stepfather over allegations he had sexually abused her.

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ACC to investigate Club Faru Resort complaints

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is to investigate whether Club Faru Resort employees were hired without being told of a change in management, local media reports.

Earlier this month, the Tourism Ministry took over the resort from its present owners following the expiry of its lease agreement and handed control to the government-owned Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).

President of ACC Hassan Luthfy told local media that while no case had been filed to the commission in writing regarding Club Faru, the ACC was investigating due to the complaints received from “various groups” in relation to the resort.

“The major complaint we have received is that the government operates the resort using its previous employees, and that they were given employment without making the necessary announcements. These kinds of complaints, we are looking into them,” he said.

Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb told Minivan News that the resort would be closed within two months as part of the government’s plan to begin the second phase of “reclaiming” Hulhumale’ this year.

“The resort is to be operated by a government company for two months and it will then be closed down and reclaimed.
“It was a seven year lease that expired on November 15,” he said earlier this month. “Now the government has decided to reclaim that part of Hulhumale’.”

Adheeb told Minivan News that the resort would be closed as part of the government’s plans to begin the second phase of “reclaiming” Hulhumale’ this year.

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MTCC ferry and bus services to charge GST

Ferry and bus services operated by Maldives Transport and Construction Company (MTCC) will now charge GST in addition to the ticket price, local media has reported.

MTCC Transport Executive Ismail Fariq told Sun Online that the company is now required to collect GST as it is a registered company at Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA).

Under the new requirements, tickets to Hulhumale’ cost MVR 5.30 and a ticket to Vilimale’ is charged at MVR 3.18. Inter-atoll island-to-island ferry services charge MVR 21 and MVR 53 for a trip to Male’
. Hulhumale’ bus fees have also increased to MVR 2.12, according to local media.

“It is not that we have increased the prices of our services. We have just added the GST 6 percent to our services,” Fariq told local media. “As such, GST will be collected from ferries from Hulhumale’, Vilingili, Gulhee Falhu, Thilafushi and province ferries as well as Hulhumale’ bus services.”

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Stranded cargo vessel causes MVR 61 million worth of damage to reef

The cargo vessel stranded off the coast of Male’ last week (January 7) caused MVR 61 million (US$3.9 million) worth of damage to the reef, local media has reported.

An assessment conducted by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) showed that the 210 metre long and 30 metre wide boat had caused damage to the reef, Chairman of Transport Authority Abdul Rasheed Nafiz told local media.

According to Nafiz, discussions between the two parties are to be held during the next three days before a fine can be imposed.

The Liberian 27,000-ton boat named Auguste Schulte became stranded in shallow water when it attempted to make a turn, local media reported.

It was eventually refloated after three hours using two tug boats and through the assistance of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

The Transport Authority earlier stated that the government could impose a fine of MVR 85,000 (US$ 5,508) per square metre of damage caused to the reef.

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MNDF launch basic diving course for international military personnel

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has initiated a basic diving program to be used by international military personnel, local media have reported.

Entitled ‘MNDF Coast Guard Basic Diving Course’, Defence Minister Colonel Mohamed Nazim told local media that the course is the first to be organised by the MNDF and used by foreign ministry personnel.

“The first course will include personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, Sri Lankan Navy, Nepalese Special Forces, and 12 personnel from MNDF. I believe that this course will be successful in every way, and that more countries will participate in the future,” Nazim was quoted as saying in Sun Online.

Lieutenant Mohamed Shareef of the MNDF coast guard told members of the press that the diving course will continue for a period of two months, during which participants will learn how to appropriately handle situations they may face underwater.

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Education Ministry warns of student loan shortage

The Education Ministry may be unable to issue loans to 1000 students due to its “significantly lower” budget, Education Minister Dr Asim Ahmed has told local media.

Ahmed emphasised that the Education Ministry would continue to issue loans, while students selected for the loan scheme in 2012 would still receive funds. Only 526 students applied in 2012, reported Haveeru.

The number of student loans available in 2013 remains unclear, as discussions with the Finance Ministry are ongoing. The Education Ministry previously announced loan applications would become available in February.

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PPM MP Abdulla Yameen’s campaign team will “accept defeat” should they lose party congress

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Abdulla Yameen’s campaign team have said they will accept defeat and follow the winner should they lose in the party congress this month, local media reports.

The first congress of PPM is to be held on January 17 and will see both Umar Naseer’s campaign team and Yameen’s ‘Yageen Team’ compete in the congress, Sun Online reported.

PPM Spokesperson Ahmed Mahloof told local media that PPM will hold debates between contestants in line with the principles of democracy.

Mahloof said that party members will not become enemies, adding that disagreements such as those arising between members of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) will not arise between members of PPM, local media reported.

“This party has over 30,000 members. The party will always follow the decisions made by them. The major concern of our party members would be that we may end up like DRP. God willing, that won’t happen to us,” Mahloof was quoted as saying in Sun Online.

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Maldives Inland Revenue Authority conducts training program on financial crimes

Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has conducted a training program to increase staff awareness of financial crimes.

A MIRA official told local media that the ‘Investigation Schools Development Program’ was conducted from January 6 to January 10 in cooperation with the police.

“The training program informed MIRA staff on how to act when they encounter cases of tax evasion during auditing or investigations”, the MIRA official was quoted in Sun Online.

Maldives Police Service provided instructors for the program.

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Nasheed returns from visiting ill father

Former President Mohamed Nasheed returned to Male’ around 10:30pm Thursday night following a trip to Bangkok where he was visiting his ill father, reports Sun Online.

Nasheed left the Maldives December 25, 2012 following multiple immigration delays to his departure to Thailand.

This included the withholding of his passport due to the ongoing trial against him in relation to the arrest of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdullah Mohamed while he was president, as well as a “technical error” at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport on December 21, local media reports.

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