The Traffic Police Department of the Maldives Police Service has carried out a special operation in Malé to address the difficulties in parking.
The operation, which was carried out on April 10, involved clearing the roads and parking areas of unwanted items such pallets and litter.
This operation cleared over 100 unwanted pallets from the streets, and was part of a wider initiative by the police to address parking difficulties.
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(0)A suspected drug lord had been freed after the police failed to summon him to the court on time, with local media reporting that the individual has now left the country for Sri Lanka.
According to Haveeru, the police have told the paper that the suspect was released in compliance with a decision made by the court.
The paper noted that when he was brought before the judge to extend his pre-trial detention period, the duration of his previous detention had already expired.
Maldivian laws oblige the police to bring all persons arrested in connection with criminal offenses before a court of law within 24 hours of arrest. If the police wish to further extend a detention period they must request an extension before the previous warrant expires.
Haveeru reported that police had tried to obtain a new arrest warrant to take him back into police custody but the court had refused, saying that the suspect had to be freed due of police negligence.
The paper stated that, when the police summoned him to the court, seven minutes had elapsed since the expiry of his previous pre-trial detention period.
It was reported that the suspected drug lord was arrested last December with large amounts of cash and illegal drugs inside his house.
In February, Ibrahim Shafaz Abdul Razzaq – sentenced to 18 years in prison last November after being found guilty of drug trafficking – departed to Sri Lanka for medical treatment.
The Maldives Correctional Services was not informed of a date for the inmate’s return and he was not accompanied by a correctional officer, local media reported.
Following the incident, the Anti-Corruption Commission has confiscated the passport of an expatriate doctor who signed the medical report recommending that Shafaz be sent abroad for treatment.
Commissioner of Prisons Moosa Azim has previously told Minivan News that all due procedures had been followed in allowing Shafaz to leave to get medical treatment.
“A medical officer does not have to accompany the inmate. He was allowed to leave under an agreement with his family. Family members will be held accountable for his actions, including failure to return,” Azim told Minivan News at the time.
In a similar incident in 2011, the Criminal Court released the suspected murderer of a 17-year-old boy, citing a lack of cooperation from the Health Ministry.
Keeping someone in detention for six months for not getting a response from the health ministry was “too much’’, said the judge at the time. The suspect was subsequently released before being rearrested just weeks later in connection with the murder of a 21 year-old man.
(0)Dislikes(0)In a varied week of news, protests, primates, and possessed plants all featured in the headlines.
The top story of the week, however, involved the tragic death of two port workers in Malé, killed by faulty equipment in an accident the union suggested could have been avoided.
Beloved public health figure Dr Ahmed Razee also passed away this week after more than three decades of public service.
Meanwhile, tests run following the death of a Malé resident the week before revealed high levels of opium and benzodiazepine in the blood of the youth – released from rehab just 24 hours earlier.
Statistics from the Drug Court this week revealed that 101 individuals have completed the mandatory rehab programmes that had been prescribed since the court’s introduction in August 2012.
The case of a Russian woman accused of smuggling drugs into the country was sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office, while the passport of the doctor who signed the form allowing a convicted drug dealer to leave the country was held by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The ACC were also occupied with investigating alleged wrongdoing in the Ramazan night market contract, with the commission telling the new city council that the deal had been terminated last year – to the bemusement of Go Media, the company currently organising this year’s event.
Police were also kept busy with the recent rush of child abuse cases, with commentators unsure as to whether the recent spate of incidents represented a rise in offending or a greater willingness to report such crimes.
One crime not reported to police this week was the apparent offence committed by a ‘Jinn tree’ upon the residents of Haa Alif Thakandhoo, who took matters into their own hands, breaking into the school compound to hack down the accused.
Campaigners in neighbouring Haa Dhaalu atoll continued to gain support for their calls to bring resort development to the atoll, with the government assuring that the tourism industry’s ever-growing spoils would be equally distributed.
Teachers campaigning against pay discrepancies wore black to work this week, while civil servants seeking equal pay discussed a potential strike later in the month.
The Bar Association suggested that the government had failed to adequately consult the legal profession regarding new regulations to practice, as well as calling for the suspension of Chief Justice Ali Hameed after his alleged involvement in a sex-tape scandal.
The government’s plans to raise revenue continued this week, with MIRA expecting to receive an additional MVR110 million per year through the taxation of telecoms – revenue that will be essential should the soon-to-be concluded GMR arbitration case go against the state.
The Home Ministry was chastised for its failure to adhere to the schedule of the recently-implemented Anti-Torture Act, while the Environment Ministry revealed that euthanasia may be the only option left for the slow loris confiscated by police earlier this year.
The alcohol possession trial of departing MPs Abdulla Jabir and Hamid Abdul Ghafoor was postponed when the former was unable to attend after suffering health problems while in jail.
Legal challenges to March’s elections results continued to rise, casting doubt on the identities of a number of future MPs, scheduled to be sworn in on May 28.
(0)Dislikes(0)Police have today said they have started a special operation to seize all dangerous animals that are illegally imported to the country.
In a statement the police said they had commenced a joint special operation with the relevant government institutions after having noticed that sightings of such animals on streets and other places had become common in the Maldives.
Police said that aim of the special operation was to seize all these animals and take them under police charge before a regrettable incident occurs.
Furthermore, the police stated that the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Fisheries Ministry, customs and the Maldives National Defence Force were all involved in the operation.
Police have also appealed to the public to inform police if they have any information by contacting the police hotline – 332 2111, the police emergency hotline – 119, or police Criminal Investigation Department – 963 1696.
On 16 March Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed met with Commissioner General of Customs Ahmed Mohamed and a delegation of senior customs official to discuss the increase in illegal animals being discovered during recent drug operations.
A police statement at the time reported that Waheed had told officials that citizens were now in constant fear, noting that the police did not have any role in the airports and other ports.
He also said that police now needed to conduct as many operations to confiscate illegal and dangerous animals as to curb drug related crimes.
Earlier in March, police discovered a royal python – a nonvenomous snake commonly kept as a pet – following a drugs raid in Himmafushi, Kaafu atoll, on March 4.
In a separate raid on March 7 police also confiscated a Kingsnake and a Mexican red-kneed tarantula from a house in Malé.
A slow loris was also discovered by police in a drugs raid in Malé in Januray 21. It has been revealed this week that the ministry is considering destroying the animal after attempts to find a suitable home had failed.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Ministry of Environment has decided that an illegally trafficked slow loris – a species recognised as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN red list – will be euthanised.
“After running out of other options, the ministry sees euthanasia as the only option available,” stated Assistant Director for the Environment Department Ilham Atho Mohamed.
“This decision does not affect the wild population or the conservation potential of the species. It will also help prevent further illegal trade of such species and prevent the specimen from re-entering illegal trade,” she contended.
The slow loris was discovered by police in a January drugs raid in the capital Malé, along with more than MVR300,000 in cash.
“In the capacity of the Management Authority of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Maldives, we have already explored all options and have come to a decision from the Ministry’s side,” Ilham told Minivan News today.
According to Ilham, there were three possible options when dealing with the animal – keeping it in captivity, returning it to the wild, or having the animal put down.
She explained that these are the three options given in accordance with the CITES resolution on ‘Disposal of confiscated live specimens of species’ which she noted was in line with international best practice.
The first option of captivity was not available in the Maldives, she noted, with no rescue centres, humane societies, or relevant university facilities.
As the CITES resolution details a number of other obstacles to keeping the creature in captivity in the Maldives, Ilham explained that the ministry had attempted to find a home for the slow loris elsewhere.
“Through the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums an announcement was made and two parties showed interest. One from the Czech Republic and other from Brazil,” though Ilham explained that the interested parties in Brazil had not responded after initial enquiries.
Issues soon arose with the transfer to the Czech Republic, however, as the import of the animal could not be approved as it is not in accordance with World Organisation for Animal Health.
Furthermore, flights landing in Maldives are neither willing to take the animal, nor do they meet with the IATA Live Animal Regulations. Alternatively, sea transport proved prohibitively expensive.
The second option of returning the animal to the wild was not available in the Maldives, stated Ilham, as the Maldives does not have the wild habitat of the slow loris.
“For countries that do not have the above two options this [euthanasia] is the only option and the least expensive one.”
“The resolution mentioned above also states ‘it cannot be overstressed that euthanasia may frequently be the simplest and most humane option available’ and gives several clear advantages,” she explained.
Unnatural habitat
Following the discovery of the a number of exotic and illegal animals by police this year, the government has moved to step up customs security, in an effort to stem the flow of illegal animals being trafficked into the Maldives.
“We have instructed cargo checks and consider giving more attention to these, and will report any findings,” said Senior Superintendant of Customs Ahmed Niyaz, adding that customs were working closely with the police.
Any dangerous animals that are confiscated are handed over to the police, he said, adding that “if an animal is protected under convention they will inform the Ministry of Environment. They will then check with international bodies.”
In the majority of cases the dangerous animals will then be sent to other countries, due to insufficient space or expertise in Malé, he explained.
Aside from those trafficked, non-native species such as crocodiles have also found themselves in the Maldives, resulting in dilemmas regarding the appropriate way to handle these unusual arrivals.
In 1998, a small crocodile – or kimboo in Dhivehi – was found off the coast of a local island. The animal was brought back to the Malé and placed in a small cage as a central park attraction, where it remains to this day.
Kimboo occasionally makes it into local media and even has his own Facebook page calling for his release from his now-cramped quarters, which the World Society for the Protection of Animals has called “entirely inadequate”
Similar to the slow loris, attempts to have the crocodile relocated to have yet to produce results, with financial and legal obstacles barring kimboo’s path out of the country.
The discovery of two more crocodiles in early 2011 raised serious concerns around the containment and treatment of animals in the Maldives.
(0)Dislikes(0)A 24-year-old man found dead in Henveiru Annaarumaage on April 1 less than 24 hours after his release from rehab tested positive for opiates, police have revealed.
“Analysis shows that there was a high concentration of the drugs opium and benzodiazepine in the youth’s urine,” police said in a statement yesterday.
Police media officials were not responding to calls at the time of press to confirm whether a heroin overdose has been established as the cause of death.
Local media identified the deceased last week as Mohamed Rashad from the island of Kulhudhufushi in Haa Dhaal atoll.
According to Rashad’s family, he was released from the rehabilitation centre in Himmafushi the day before his death.
“Mohamed was released yesterday, and he was staying with a friend at Annaarumaage until the community centre could make arrangements,” Rashad’s uncle was quoted as saying by Sun Online.
“His friend was there when I went to the house, who told me that Mohamed was still sleeping when he woke up. When we went and checked, he was dead.”
National Drug Agency (NDA) CEO Ahmed Muneer explained to the online news outlet that patients undergoing community treatment upon release from rehab were required to attend several classes.
Recovering addicts were required to stay in Malé until the process could be completed, Muneer said.
He also denied the family’s claim that they were not informed by the NDA of Rashad’s release.
Spiked
Speaking at a ceremony held on Thursday to mark the second anniversary of the Drug Court, Acting Chief Judge Mahaz Ali expressed concern with the rehabilitation facilities available in the Maldives.
The NDA informed the Drug Court in April last year that all rehabilitation centres in the country were at full capacity, Mahaz revealed.
The main community centre in Malé was at full capacity at the start of this month, he continued, and could not accept more patients.
Since its formation in January 2012 with the enactment of the new Drugs Act, Mahaz said that 93 drug offenders had completed the court-mandated rehabilitation programme.
Of the 93 recovering addicts, Mahaz noted that only eight had been arrested again.
In March 2009, Minivan News reported the death of five drug addicts from overdose or suicide in the space of one month.
Four out of the five addicts had received treatment at the rehabilitation centre in Himmafushi.
Police revealed at the time that a forensic examination of confiscated drugs showed that heroin sold on the streets was laced with benzodiazepine, a class of psychoactive drugs.
The combination of benzodiazepine with opiates is known to lead to coma and even death.
According to local NGO Journey, about 95 per cent of addicts who seek rehabilitation in the country relapse into drug use.
(0)Dislikes(0)Twenty Maldivian police officers will attend a seminar alongside Chinese counterparts later this month in Shanghai, local media has revealed.
The China-Maldives Police Service Seminar will be held between April 10-23, reported Sun Online who have quoted Commissioner Hussain Waheed as expressing hope that the seminar would bring the standards of the Maldivian participants up to those of Chinese officers.
Speaking at an official inauguration ceremony last night, Chinese Ambassador to Maldives Wang Fukang hoped the seminar could further strengthen Maldives-Chinese relations while thanking local police officers for keeping Chinese tourists safe.
China now contributes more tourist arrivals to the Maldives than any other country, with recent government figures showing that 331,719 Chinese tourists visited the Maldives last year, accounting for 29.5 percent of all tourist arrivals in 2013.
(0)Dislikes(0)Police have yesterday arrested two more people from the island of Thinadhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll in connection with the death of Ali Rasheed,79, who was found dead inside his house last Friday (April 4).
Police have said that the two persons arrested were Maldivians aged 33 and 39.
The 33 year-old man was arrested late yesterday afternoon while the 39 year-old man was arrested last night, the police told local newspapers.
Ali Rasheed was found dead lying on the floor of his room. He was living alone following the death of his wife some years earlier.
A source from the island told online newspaper Sun that Rasheed had a six-inch laceration on his head and a swollen left eye.
Police said the death was being investigated as they suspected foul play. An investigation team was dispatched to the island.
(0)Dislikes(0)Police have said today (April 8) that two individuals have been taken into custody for possession of what is suspected of being illicit narcotics, along with alcohol from M. Aathari.
The two locals arrested were a 27 year old and an 18 year old male.
The operation involved the raid of M. Aathari where 3 packets of suspicious substances were found, along with 7 bottles of alcohol, 16 empty bottles, a large amount of money and implements used to partake in illicit narcotics.
The Drug Enforcement Department is investigating the matter further, stated Police.
Yesterday, police revealed that a large cache of alcohol had been seized from a house in Malé the previous day.
A total of 115 bottles and 48 cans of liquor were seized in the raid.
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