Tag: crime

Fifth suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Arham

Police have arrested a fifth person involved in the murder of 16 year-old Mohamed Arham, who was killed in ‘Lorenzo Park’ last month.

Police today said that an 18 year-old man was arrested this afternoon in connection with the case, at about 2:15pm.

No details of the man were disclosed to the media.

Recently, police arrested four men allegedly involved in the murder and said the death was related to a gang war and not political.

Deputy Head of Police Serious and Organised Crime, Dhaudh Mohamed, previously said that 16 year-old Mohamed Arham was killed in a revenge attack in an argument that night between two gangs.

Dhaudh said that the police investigation had found out that Arham had a close relationship with the gang, who were based in the park in which he was found dead. The victim had no previous criminal record, although he used to visit the park frequently, police stated.

The hearing into the murder of Abdul Mueeth ‘Bobby’, 21, was also scheduled for today at the Criminal Court but was later cancelled as the accused three men, Muhujath Ahmed Naseeh, Mohamed Maimoon and Ali Mushaf had not appointed lawyers.

According to local newspapers, at today’s hearing the judge told the state attorney that in cases of this type the accused can only respond to the charges with a lawyer.

Ali Mushaf today complained to the judge that he was restricted from basic rights such as the opportunity to make phone calls while under pre-trial detention.

On February 19, Abdul Muheeth of G. Veyru, was rushed to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) after he was stabbed at 1:45am near the Finance Ministry building. He later died during treatment.

The family of Muheeth have said that he was waiting outside his house for a friend after finishing a family dinner.

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Three police and an MNDF officer arrested for robbing expatriate workers

Police have arrested three police officers and a Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) officer after they allegedly robbed a large amount of cash from expatriate workers in a house near the State Bank of India (SBI) in Male’s Heniveru ward.

Newspaper Haveeru reported that one police officer was a member of the police investigations team, while another was a Special Operations (SO) officer.

Haveeru reported that the men entered the house and attacked and threatened the expatriate workers on Friday night around 9:00pm.

Two of the police officers were in uniform during the incident, according to Haveeru.

The paper reported that two police officers met one of the expatriates on the road and robbed him of his mobile phone, before heading towards the house the workers were living in.

Police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef today confirmed to Minivan News that a robbery was reported to police on Friday night.

Haneef said he could not confirm whether police officers and a MNDF officer were involved in the robbery.

‘’There were Maldivians involved in it,’’ he said, adding that this was all the information that he could share regarding the case at the moment.

Online newspaper Manadhoolive has also reported the same incident.

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Two arrested in connection with the stabbing of Bangladeshi man

Police have arrested two Maldivian men who were allegedly involved in the stabbing of a Bangladeshi man last night at about 12:30am, while he was near Personal Computers, a computer shop in the Maafanu ward of Male’.

The names and identity of the pair arrested were not disclosed to the media but police said one man was 18 and the other was 19 years-old.

Police said they have confiscated the sharp weapon the assailants used near Maafannu Vakkaru house, with blood on it.

According to police the Bangladeshi man was stabbed in the neck from behind, and he was taken to Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) for treatment.

A statement police issued today said that the man’s condition was improving.

Police Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef today told Minivan News that police have information that four persons were involved in the attack on the Bangladeshi man.

‘’We are searching for the other two involved,’’ Haneef said. ‘’We are not very clear on the motive behind the attack.’’

The stabbing is the latest in a wave of similar incidents across Male’, some of which have proven fatal.

Early last week, prominent Maldivian blogger and journalist Ismail ‘Hilath’ Rasheed was left in a critical condition after his throat was slashed outside his house in Male’. A Bangladeshi man was also stabbed the same evening and suffered minor injuries.

On May 30, the dead body of 16 year-old Mohamed Arham was discovered by police inside the park behind Kulliyathul Dhirasathul Islamiyya.

On May 31, 65 year-old Hassan Abubakur was found murdered inside his own house on the island of Maafaru in Noonu Atoll.

Police have arrested suspects for every stabbing incident with the exception of the attack on Hilath.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have condemned the attack on the journalist, describing it as having  “all the hallmarks of a targeted murder attempt.”

“Rasheed has made many enemies through his outspoken blogging. The authorities in charge of the investigation should not rule out the possibility that this was linked to his journalistic activity. He is a well-known journalist who has repeatedly been censored, arrested and threatened,” RSF said in a statement.
“The police must, as a matter of urgency, put a stop to the harassment of Rasheed and take the issue of his safety seriously. Any lack of response on their part will constitute a criminal failure to assist a person in danger.”
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Police recover Rf28,500, US$201 stolen from a house in Addu

Police have recovered Rf28,500 (US$1900) and US$201 in cash stolen from a house in the Hulhumeedhoo ward of Addu City, and arrested two men and a 16 year-old boy in connection with the case.

According to police, the cash was reported stolen from Evening Villa in Hulhumeedhoo. Hulhumeedhoo Police Station conducted a special operation to find the money and the suspects.

Police said the two men aged 38, 18 and 16 years old were arrested and questioned about the incident. The money was discovered yesterday evening, hidden inside the toilet of a house called Hikiunimaage in Addu.

The 16 year-old boy has a previous criminal record for theft, for which he was convicted and served his sentence at Feydhufinolhu before he was handed over to his parents in May this year, police said.

The other two men also have previous criminal records of assault and theft.

Police statistics show that so far 156 cases of theft have been logged with  the police in the month of June, while 13 cases of robbery, 36 cases of assault, 37 cases related to drugs, 55 cases of traffic violation, 14 cases of sexual offences, three cases of domestic violence, two cases of counterfeit and forgery, 26 cases of vandalism have been reported to police in this month.

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Two men and a minor arrested in connection with murder of 65 year-old man

Police have arrested three persons in connection with the recent murder of 65 year-old Hassan Abu Bakuru, of Maafaru in Noonu Atoll.

Police have not disclosed the names of the three arrested, but have said the suspects were aged 26, 27 and 17.

The 17 year-old boy was arrested on Friday afternoon at about 2:02pm with an arrest warrant, police said.

Police also said they were taking the case very seriously and that the investigation had a high priority.

Police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef said police could not disclose further information before the investigation reached a conclusion.

He said he could not tell if the arrested persons had any relations to the victim.

Hassan Abubakur was found murdered inside his own house on May 30 at around 6:00pm on the island of Manafaru in Noonu Atoll.

“Neighbors living near his house noticed that he had not been coming out at all, and went in to see what was going on and found his dead body,” said Ahmed Shareef, President of the Island Council of Maafaru.

“I saw inside the house after the incident, it seems that some people tried to steal something from the house, because the things inside his house were not arranged as they usually were,’’ he told Minivan News, in a previous interview. “Some cupboards doors were opened and some things supposed to be kept on the table were dropped on the floor.”

Head of Maafaru Island Health Centre Ali Shareef said according to rumours, the man had received a large amount of cash in a lump sum through the elderly persons’ pension scheme, as he had not received it for a long time. The assailants may have killed him in an effort to steal the money, Shareef speculated.

The elderly man’s legs were tied and a pillow was on his face when his body was found, Shareef said, according to islanders who witnessed the body.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the island was ‘Manafaru’. This should have been ‘Maafaru’.

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Family of stabbing victim Muheeth to hold 10 minutes of silence

The family of 21 year-old Abdul Muheeth ‘Bobby’ who was stabbed to death outside the Finance Ministry of February 19, has organised 10 minutes of silence in memory of his death.

The 10 minutes of silence is to be held on Thursday at Ameenee Magu from 12:30pm to 12:40pm in front of the Finance Ministry, the area where he was killed.

Muheeth’s family said the event was open for the public to take part, and appealed for as many as possible to take part.

According to the ‘Justice for Bobby’ Facebook page created by his family, after the 10 minutes of silence attendees will be invited to pray.

Muheeth’s family said the event was the beginning of their work against gang violence, and said they have realised that more innocent lives could be lost as the city of Male’ was no longer safe for anyone.

‘’A moment of silence will be observed in remembrance of our dear brother Bobby, who was brutally killed by some evil gangsters on February 19th 2012,” the family said. “Please join with us to honor and pay respect to our innocent brother. Thank you!’’

The ‘Justice for Bobby’ Facebook page has since been ‘liked’ by 13,000 people, with moving comments posted by many family members.

‘’It’s so hard to even look at your photos, I get flashbacks of the night I held you in my arms when you were covered in blood…. I tried… I lied.. I told him ‘Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine.. Just be strong. It’s just a scratch’,” said his brother.

“I never realised how many stab marks were on his body until I looked at myself… I was covered in Bobby’s blood, from head to toe… words can’t explain how much it hurts to lose you like that.. I will try as hard as I can. One way or another, I will find justice,” he wrote.

Bobby’s girlfriend wrote: ‘’I saw u in my dreams last night… I’m glad I saw u, we were talking about our marriage.. I’m looking forward for that day so much… The day you and I can be one.. But maybe God has another plan for us, something wonderful for us in heaven perhaps. Miss the way u made me feel around u… Miss the sweet conversations we had… and most of all, miss fighting with u… the fact that i miss u so much and there is nothing i can do about it, is killing me inside.. i want to talk to u, hug u, hold ur hand, and be around u all the time…”

A cousin wrote a poem: “I’m glad he feels no pain now – he lives in a perfect land, I can hear the soft voice and the see the sweet smile on his face, I lie in bed and cry at night, and I don’t feel any better in the morning light, And I will love and miss him forever, until the day we are again together, together in that perfect place above, filled with caring, sharing and love, but until that day comes – I will wipe my tears away.”

Meanwhile, police have a statement saying that cases have been forwarded against Muhujath Ahmed Naasih of Abulagee Ge on Gahdhoo in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll, Mohamed Maimoon of Zaithoonige, on Naifaru of Lhaviyani Atoll, and Ali Mushahfau of Sultan Villa on Maradhoo in Seenu Atoll.

The Criminal Court and Juvenile Court have begun the hearings of the case, which continues in court.

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Police vehicle collides with MDP supporters on Fuvamulah, injures two

A police vehicle collided with a group of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters while it was en-route to a crime scene on Fuvamulah in Gnaviyani Atoll, where a gang had stabbed one man, injured two others and damaged parked motorcycles.

In a statement, police said the vehicle collided with a motorcycle that had turned into Ghaazee Road.

People in the area when the incident occurred vandalised the police vehicle and assaulted police officers in the vehicle, read the police statement.

Police said two persons injured in the accident, as well as the gang attack victim, were admitted to Fuvamulah Hospital.

However online newspaper ‘Kattelhi’, based in Fuvamulah, reported that the  police vehicle was returning from the crime scene at around 9:30pm when it collided with a motorcyclist, causing the driver to lose control and crash into parked motorcycles. The paper alleged the vehicle was travelling at a very high speed.

Immediately following the crash, people gathered in front of the MDP Fuvamulah Office surrounded the police vehicle, broke the glass, and attacked police officers inside the vehicle, Kattelhi reported.

Kattelhi reported that its reporters witnessed some of the officers being admitted to Fuvamulah Hospital.

The paper identified the injured two persons as Ahmed Hassan, 23 and Ali Saeed, 30 both of them Fuvamulah islanders.

According to Kattelhi one man’s head was badly injured and his body bruised, however according to Fuvamulah Hospital no one was seriously injured.

Minivan News understands that the person who received injuries to his head has been brought to Male’ for treatment.

One man suffered bruises and head injuries in the accident

Kattelhi quoted people in the area as saying that the police vehicle was travelling at an unusually high speed and that there was enough space for it in the middle of the road. MDP supporters were on both sides of road attending a meeting.

The paper identified the gang attack victim as 18 year-old Ahmed Juman, who was stabbed in the head but was not seriously injured.

Supporters of government-aligned parties later gathered near Fuvamulah Hospital and Fuvamulah Police Headquarters, claiming that they believed MDP supporters were coming to attack police, according to Kattelhi. The crowd left after police requested them to leave.

Police Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef said the police statement was issued based on the information police have received so far and that the investigation into the case was ongoing.

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Police recover electronics stolen from Irin Enterprises offices

Police have recovered a laptop and other electronic items stolen from Irin Enterprises Office and returned them to the owner.

Police said the items were discovered inside the house of a minor, already in police custody, following a police search of his house.

The minor was arrested on April 23 for alleged involvement in a different case, police said.

A police investigation revealed that another minor involved in the robbery of Irin Enterprises was also in police custody, arrested in connection with a different case on April 25.

According to statistics released to the media by the Home Ministry’s Juvenile Justice Unit, 155 offences committed by minors have been filed this year.

Most of the cases involving male juveniles were related to drugs, theft, sex, assault and vandalism, while most of the cases concerning females related to alcohol, creating unrest in an unlawful gathering, and theft, according to the Juvenile Justice Unit.

The unit also noted that 68 percent of minors who committed felonies are children who do not attend to school. The most number of crimes were committed by children between the ages of 16-18.

Factors leading to the involvement of children in criminal activities included the “negative influence of the media”, adults luring them into a criminal environment, and having parents who were criminals, the report noted. and

According to police statistics for the month of May, 58 cases of theft, five cases of robbery, five cases of assault and 18 cases of drugs have been reported.

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High Court rules against keeping Muheeth murder suspect under house arrest

The High Court has overturned a previous Juvenile Court ruling to keep the main suspect in the murder of Abdul Muheeth under house arrest, declaring that the minor should be detained in accordance with the Home Ministry.

The High Court said yesterday that it had been notified by the Prosecutor General (PG’s) Office that the original Juvenile Court decision had not properly considered the present charges against the suspect or his criminal record.

In overruling the Juvenile Court, the High Court said the minor might become a threat to the society if detained under house arrest.

The PG also claimed during the High Court ruling that the Juvenile Court had not properly considered that the suspect, who is a minor, might influence the trial’s witnesses should he be released from police detention.

It was noted yesterday that the Juvenile Court has issued five warrants related to the case, with the most recent requesting that the suspect be put under house arrest.

The four previous warrants issued requested the suspect be kept in a place determined by the Home Ministry over concerns he might influence witnesses should he be released from detention.

The High Court said that when keeping a suspect in detention, the presiding judge in the case is required to refer to several different factors, such as the crime involved and the challenges faced in investigating the offence.

Other factors a judge needed to consider were the number of persons involved in the crime, the nature of the crime, the penalty for the crime, the probability that the accused might flee and the probability of influencing witnesses.

The High Court stated that the suspect had a criminal record with five previous offences.  The court said that these cases included involvement in an unlawful gathering whilst in possession of a violent weapon, a charge of assault using a violent weapon and one case of terrorism. In considering the suspect’s record, the High Court said it could be believed he might be a threat to the society if released from detention.

The PG requested the High Court to keep the minor in pre-trial detention until the court reaches a verdict on the case.  However, the High Court said the police had earlier requested the Juvenile Court grant an extension of detention for 15 days and it could only refer to police requests made at that time.

Muheeth, of G. Veyru, was stabbed to death near the Finance Ministry building on February 19.  Five suspects were arrested in connection with the case.

Police Inspector Abdulla Satheeh has previously told local media that the investigation into Muheeth’s death showed that the victim had not been involved in gang related crimes and this was not being considered a motive for the attack.  Satheeh added that the victim had no police record and was working in a responsible job at the time.

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