Opposition condemns Defense Minister Nazim’s apartment raid

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has condemned the police raid on defense minister Colonel (retired) Mohamed Nazim’s apartment in the early hours of Sunday morning (January 18).

In a press statement released yesterday, the party expressed concern over the lack of information made available regarding the raid, noting that a “police raid on a defense minister’s house is not an issue which can be taken lightly”.

Media reports suggested that masked officers forcefully entered the premises in the Galolhu ward of Malé at around 3:30am, searching the apartment of Nazim’s wife and the apartment opposite.

After the President’s Office had expressed its continued confidence in Nazim yesterday, the minister announced via twitter that he was unaffected by the incident.

Meanwhile, former President Mohamed Nasheed has alleged that Nazim’s house was searched in order to confiscate a letter written by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb to the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

“I have received information that one of the items police was looking for was a letter written by Adeeb when he was temporarily in charge of the ministry when Nazim was on holiday,” said Nasheed before departing to Abu Dhabi to take part in Zaid Future Energy prize last night.

Nasheed said the letter had requested the immigration department allow some individuals to travel to Syria for Jihad, and that Nazim had obtained the documents after arriving back at the ministry.

However, Adeeb told Minivan News today that there was no such letter, saying “all government letters are passed through computerised system”.

“If there was such a letter, it would be impossible to hide it,” he added.

The same day on which Adeeb was appointed as acting defense minister (January 4), reliable sources told Minivan News that Azlif Rauf – a suspect in the murder of MP Dr Afrasheem Ali – left the country for jihad in Syria with six members of Malé’s Kuda Henveiru gang.

Earlier this month, however, the Criminal Court told Minivan News that there were no pending charges against Rauf, and so no reason for immigration to have held his passport.

Police have told Minivan News today that they have no further information to give regarding the raid on Nazim’s apartment.

Elsewhere yesterday, crowds gathered outside Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim’s home after rumours of an imminent police raid on his house in Maafannu ward.

“I am not trembling,” Gasim told press gathered outside his home. Flanked by senior MDP members, Gasim said that he was willing to work with anyone who stands to defend the Constitution and that he will stand firm in spite of intimidation.



Related to this story

Police raid Defence Minister Nazim’s home in early hours

“I am not trembling” says Gasim after reports of imminent police raid on his home

Tourism Minister Adeeb temporarily in charge of Defense Ministry

Two immigration officers and Afrasheem murder suspect among group of twelve jihadis

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Defense witnesses tell court murder suspect was playing video games when incident occurred

Three defense witnesses of Muhujath Abdul Naasih who was arrested in connection with the death of 21-year-old Abdul Muheeth ‘Bobby’ of Galolhu Veyru have told the court that Naasih was with them playing video games when the incident occurred.

Local media present at the Criminal Court today reported that the three witnesses said Naasih was with them playing video games from 10pm to 2am the night Muheeth was murdered.

The witnesses said that at 2am they went to Petral Hotel where they met another friend before going for a ride around Malé.

They told the court that while they were riding on two motorbikes they clashed into each other, claiming that that was how Naasih got the bruise on his leg which police had claimed was obtained during the attack on Muheeth.

According to the witnesses they took Naasih to ADK hospital and after treating the injury they all went home.

Haveeru has previously reported that police had said phone call recordings revealed that Naasih’s leg was injured by another minor was involved in the murder case who had been carrying a sharp weapon that night.

Before concluding today’s hearing the presiding judge announced that the next hearing would be held on May 6.

On February 19, 2012, Muheeth was rushed to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital after being stabbed at 1:45am near the Finance Ministry building. He later died during treatment.

In May 2013, the Juvenile Court issued the death sentence to two 18 year-olds found guilty of the murder.

A total of three minors were charged in the case, with one later acquitted. The two sentenced to death are both 18 years-old, although both were minors at the time of the murder,

At the time of Muheeth’s death Police Inspector Abdulla Satheeh told the press that the investigation showed that the victim had no involvement in gang-related crimes, had no police record, and was working in a responsible job at the time.

The three main suspects were identified at the time as 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.

Bobby’s murder prompted a public outpouring of grief, with the ‘Justice for Bobby’ Facebook page receiving over 16,000 members, and a ten-minute silence observed at the scene of the murder.

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Malé City Council to raise mortuary fees

Malé City Council has today passed a motion preventing the removal of dead bodies from Galolhu mortuary without full payment of the relevant fees, local media has reported.

Explaining that unpaid mortuary fees now MVR500,000, council member Hassan Afeef told Haveeru that fees for mortuary services would be raised in order to raise funds.

While previous costs were MVR1000 per day for everyone, the cost for foreigners will now be MVR1,500 and MVR750 for locals, reported the paper. Fees for foreigners on tourist visas will now be MVR3,084.

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Three arrested for knife attack

Last night police arrested three persons in connection with a case where a man was attacked using a sharp object.

Police Spokesperson today told Minivan News that the incident occurred last night at about 12:25pm near Male’ Hiya Flat area in Galolhu.

He confirmed that the three were arrested and referred Minivan News to the hospital to clarify information on the injuries received to the victim.

According to sources the victim was stabbed in the chest.

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Taxi destroyed in fire

A taxi parked near Hazarsh Mart in Galolhu, Malé, caught fire yesterday, report police.

Police said the fire started at 5 pm. Nobody was injured during the incident.

The Maldives National Defense Force Fire and Rescue team attended the area and controlled the fire.

Police reported that the car was almost fully damaged during the incident and are still investigating the reason for the fire.

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