Category: News in Brief

Man assaulted in Malé

A young man was assaulted and seriously injured near the Usfasgandu area of Malé last night, reports local media.

A police patrol discovered the victim on the ground around 1am and took him to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Police said a group of men on motorbikes assaulted the youth and no arrests have yet been made. Local media reported that the victim was attacked with wrenches while he was working on his motorbike.

The extent of the victim’s injuries also remain unclear.

Earlier this week, two men were stabbed in a café in Malé while several violent assaults took place in the capital during the previous month.

A spate of violent assaults in the capital in August – which police said was a series of gang reprisals – saw three young men stabbed to death.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

ARC exhibition opened by first lady

A photo exhibition for children’s rights NGO Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) has opened in Malé’s National Art Gallery, with First Lady Madam Fathimath Ibrahim cutting the ribbon yesterday morning.

The first lady commended ARC for its efforts to promote and protect the rights of the child, and acknowledged the greater need to raise awareness on issues concerning children’s welfare.

The exhibition – which runs until Friday (November 7) between 10am and 11pm – features photographs depicting areas from the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Twelve photographs were chosen to be included in ARC’s official 2015 calendar, with the winners being revealed and certificates awarded by the first lady at yesterday’s opening ceremony.

All proceeds from the calendar sales will be used to fund ARC’s HOPE Campaign against Child Abuse.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

MP Nihan elected chair of budget review committee

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Ahmed Nihan has been elected chair of parliament’s budget review committee at the first meeting of the committee today.

Coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) MP Ali Mauroof was meanwhile elected deputy chair.

The 24-member budget review committee is comprised of the economic affairs committee and public accounts committee.

While Nihan – PPM parliamentary group leader and majority leader – was elected with 21 votes in favour, Mauroof was elected with 15 votes.

The committee has 13 MPs from the ruling PPM-MDA coalition, seven opposition Maldivian Democratic Party MPs, and four Jumhooree Party MPs.

At its first meeting today, the committee decided to complete its review of the record MVR24.3 billion annual state budget presented at yesterday’s sitting by Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad by December 1.

Article 96(b) of the Constitution states, “The People’s Majlis may approve or amend the budget submitted by the Minister of Finance as in its discretion it deems fit.”

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

President Yameen inaugurates Hoarafushi sewerage project

President Abdulla Yameen officially inaugurated a sewerage project on the island of Hoarafushi in Haa Alif Atoll yesterday.

The Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure awarded the project to the Malé Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC).

After the inauguration ceremony, President Yameen also visited Haa Alif Kulhudhufushi yesterday. He is due to return to the capital, Malé, today.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Missing Maldivian surfaces in Bangkok

A Maldivian citizen reported missing in Malaysia five months ago has handed himself into consular staff in Bangkok.

Hamdhan Mohamed made himself known to Maldivian consular officials yesterday, with Malaysian High Commissioner Mohamed Fayaz telling local media that the 28-year-old was in good health.

Authorities began the search for Hamdhan in June after he failed to board two booked flights back to the Maldives. Interpol later issued a missing persons notice.

Fayaz told media that the cause of the disappearance was still unknown, but that a team from the High Commission in Malaysia would now travel to Thailand to meet with Hamdhan.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Amendments to Clemency Act sent to committee

Amendments to the Clemency Act submitted by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Ahmed Thoriq was accepted for consideration at today’s sitting of parliament.

Following preliminary debate, MPs voted unanimously to send the amendment bill (Dhivehi) to the national security committee for further review with 62 votes in favour.

According to Thoriq’s amendments, convicts would be eligible for presidential pardon or reduction of sentences after serving one-fourth of a jail term. The period is currently one-third of a sentence.

Thoriq also proposed adding drug trafficking to crimes for which convicts would not be eligible for pardon.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Suspect acquitted of Ayyube murder

The Criminal Court on Sunday (November 2) acquitted Mohamed Fauzan of murdering Ali Hassan ‘Ayyube’ in Dhaalu Kudahuvadhoo in January 2012.

The court decided that the evidence submitted by the prosecution was insufficient to prove Fauzan was guilty of murdering the 76-year-old.

In March 2013, two minors charged with Ayyube’s murder pleaded guilty to aiding the murder in court. The two minors were charged with spying on Ayyube before the murder, and assisting the assailants to hide the murder weapon.

The Juvenile Court subsequently sentenced the pair to death.

Ayyube’s body was discovered with multiple stab wounds in an abandoned house on Kudahuvadhoo on January 8, 2013. Police arrested six individuals in connection to the case.

The victim had previously been accused of using sorcery on Fauzan’s 37 year-old mother. She was reported missing at 2am on December 4, 2011 and her body was found floating in Kudahuvadhoo lagoon later that morning.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Auditor general’s position opened for applications

The President’s Office has this morning called for applications for the auditor general’s post after controversial changes to the Audit Act last week.

Incumbent Niyaz Ibrahim has told local media he will not be applying for the post, intending instead to challenge the constitutionality of the amendments which require the president to reappoint an auditor within one month.

The announcement was published in the government gazette today and will be open until 3pm on Monday, November 10. Forms are available on the President’s Office website.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party is also considering challenging the legality of the amendment, introduced as part of changes to legislation bringing statutes in line with the 2008 Constitution.

Proposing the motion, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Ahmed Thoriq noted that the Audit Act was passed in 2007 before the ratification of the current Constitution and did not specify the responsibilities, mandate, qualification and ethical standards of the auditor general.

The amendment was passed last week, the same day the auditor general signed a damning report into an alleged US$6 million corruption scandal involving Minister of Tourism and PPM deputy leader Ahmed Adeeb.

Adeeb has labelled the report political motivated, suggesting an attempt to defame him by his political opponents.

Minivan News understands former Deputy Speaker and PPM MP Ahmed Nazim was involved in leaking documents related to the case to online news outlet CNM, which first broke the story of the Anti-Corruption Commission investigating the transactions.

In an interview with Haveeru yesterday, Niyaz denied being influenced by the Dhiggary MP Nazim, stating that their relationship during Nazim’d time as head of the Majlis’ financial committee was not in any way unusual.

Both Niyaz and his family have received death threat since the release of the report.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Indian External Affairs Minister meets with Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon last night (November 3) during her transit halt in the Maldives on her travels back to India from Mauritius.

At the meeting both Ministers discussed matters of bilateral importance, including upcoming projects in the Maldives to be executed with India’s assistance.

Ms Swaraj also extended Victory Day greetings to all Maldivians – celebrated annually to commemorate the heroes who defended the country during the failed coup attempt in November 3, 1988 – while reiterating India’s strong commitment towards the prosperity, stability, and security of the Maldives.

India was the first to respond during the attack on the capital Malé by deploying 1500 paratroopers and 3 warships after a distress call from the then President Maumoon Abdulla Gayoom asking for assistance from India, UK, and the USA.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)