Tag: police

Criminal Court cancels trials of MP ‘Sun Travel’ Shiyam and senior MDP member

The Criminal Court has cancelled Thursday’s hearings in the trials of Maldives Development Alliance Leader and MP Ahmed ‘Sun Travel’ Shiyam and Maldivian Democratic Party member Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, after the court could not hand over summon chits to them.

Zaki is facing trial after he was arrested from the island of Hondaidhoo in Haa Dhaalu Atoll while he was allegedly in possession of cannabis and alcohol.

MP Shiyam is facing trial in a case where an alcohol bottle was allegedly discovered inside his luggage when he arrived from a trip abroad country.

The Criminal Court has recently sentenced MDP MP Hamid Abdul Ghafoor to six months after he failed to show up to the court for the hearings of a case in which he was charged for possessing cannabis and refusing to provide police a sample of his urine for drug testing.

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MP Hussain Waheed’s wife and daughter stabbed

Maldivian Democratic Party MP Hussain Waheed’s 29 year-old wife and four year-old daughter were stabbed in their apartment last night (November 5).

According to police, the assault is believed to have been the result of a family dispute. A 30 year-old man has since been taken into police custody.

Local media reported that the suspect, Mohamed Najah, was the brother of the Shaviyani Komandoo MPs’ wife. Najah had a criminal record for drug abuse and assault.

Following treatment at the ADK hospital, the condition of the mother and child is reportedly stable. The girl is however being monitored at the intensive care unit as a precaution.

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State produces three police officers as witnesses against MDP MP Jabir

The state has today produced three police officers to the Criminal Court as witnesses against Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Abdulla Jabir, during the hearing of a case in which Jabir faces charges of possession of cannabis.

According to local media present at the trial, Jabir told the court that the three police officers were among the policemen who allegedly brutalised him on the uninhabited picnic island of Hondaidhoo where he was arrested and that the Police Integrity Commission’s (PIC) report on his arrest concluded that police were brutal.

Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed, presiding over the case, asked Jabir to submit video footage of the torture to the court.

Jabir’s lawyer argued that the constitution states that any witness or evidence obtained in violation to the laws should not be accepted by the court.

However, the judge replied that the court would decide on accepting the witnesses when delivering the verdict and that the court would hear what the witnesses have to day.

A total of 10 people were taken into police custody on November 16 after police raided and searched Hondaidhoo with a court warrant. Officers alleged they found large amounts of suspected drugs and alcohol upon searching the island.

In August this year, a Criminal Court media official told Minivan News that the PG had charged MDP MPs Abdulla Jabir and Hamid Abdul Ghafoor with smuggling alcohol into the country and consuming alcohol.

Jabir and Hamid were also both charged with objecting to urine testing and possession of cannabis and alcohol.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair and his wife Mariyam Faiza were also charged for objecting to take a urine test, said Manik.

Additionally, the son of former President Nasheed’s Special Envoy, Mohamed Hamdhoon Zaki,  has been charged for trafficking illegal drugs into the country – the penalty for which is 25 years and can be fined up to MVR10million.

On 24 October, the Criminal Court issued a warrant to arrest and summon Hamid to the court, but the MP took refuge in the parliament building on the same day meaning police were unable to arrest him.

The Criminal Court later sentenced Hamid to six months for failing to produced himself to the court.

The MDP has previously alleged that the government aligned parties were attempting to reverse the MDP’s majority in parliament by using courts that remain under the influence of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as a means to strip the MDP MPs of their seats in parliament.

On October 24, the Supreme Court ruled that MDP MP Ali Azim and MDP-aligned Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party MP Mohamed Nashiz were disqualified from the parliament over an unpaid debt.

On November 4, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) council member and prominent lawyer Mohamed ‘Wadde’ Waheed filed a case at the Supreme Court requesting the court disqualify DRP Leader and MP Ahmed Thasmeen Ali from parliament.

Leader of the government-aligned Maldivian Development Alliance (MDA) and MP Ahmed ‘Sun Travel’ Shiyam is also facing alcohol possession charges that – if convicted – would result in the loss of his seat.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union has requested an urgent visit to the Maldives, arriving last week to attempt to build trust between factionalised institutions, whilst the US has expressed concern at reported intimidation,

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International Democratic Union condemns “undemocratic” actions of police

The International Democratic Union (IDU) has released a statement condemning the “authoritarian”, “unconstitutional and undemocratic” role of the police in the cancellation of the October 19 presidential election.

“The IDU calls upon the President of the Maldives, the Government and all other political parties to ensure that the Elections Commissioner is empowered to hold a free and fair election to elect a new President immediately without interference from governmental authority,” read a press release from the group’s Executive Committee.

The IDU is a collection of over 54 centre-right political parties from around the globe who meet to discuss and exchange policy ideas. The group’s leadership includes former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and current UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.

The statement also expressed concern regarding potential restrictions on international election observers by the Government of Maldives.

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High Court upholds Criminal Court decision to extend pre-trial detention of Azim

The High Court has upheld a Criminal Court decision to extend the detention period of Maldivian Democratic Party member Ali Azim, whose parliamentary seat is being contested by the Supreme Court and the Majlis.

Azim was arrested on charges that he attempted to assault a Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) officer in control of the security of parliament. He has since been released to house arrest.

The High Court ruling on the appeal submitted by Azim stated that his arrest was lawful.

The High Court ruling stated that, on October 26, Azim went inside the parliament and attempted to assault an MNDF officer on duty, adding that it was the responsibility of the armed forces to stop anything that might be a threat to the security of  MPs.

The High Court ruling also said that Azim was arrested by police outside the parliament in the presence of his lawyer and that police have completed all the procedure stated in article 48 of the constitution.

Additionally, the High Court also noted that article 74 of the constitution states the Supreme Court has to determine if there is any dispute over the legitimacy of a parliamentarian and that, on October 24 at 6:30pm, the Supreme Court had ruled that Azim was disqualified from his seat and could no longer be considered a member of the Majlis.

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Two arrested with stolen items from the island of Mulak in Meemu Atoll

Police have arrested two persons with stolen items from the island of Mulak in Meemu Atoll.

According to police, the case was reported on the morning of October 31.

Police said officers searched the house the suspects were living in after obtaining a search warrant from the court, discovering stolen money, gold and 11 bullet sized rubber packets containing illegal drugs.

The two arrested were taken to the magistrate court in Mulee Island to decide on their detention period and the court have granted police a 15-day period to keep them in pre-trial detention.

Mulak police station is further investigating the case.

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Police arrest man who swam to Maafushi prison with mobile phones

Police have said last Friday (1 October) they have arrested a man who attempted to smuggle 23 mobile phones into Maafushi prison after swimming to the island.

According to police, the man is 28 years old and has previous records of assault, theft, obstruction of police duty and drug related offenses.

Police said the man was first captured by Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Service prison officers and was later handed over to police.

When his body was searched police found 23 mobile phones, five charges and one headset, the police said.

Maafushi Police Station is now investigating the case.

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Police seeks public assistance in locating man who robbed a house and attacked a minor before fleeing

Police have asked for public assistance in locating a person identified as Mohamed Jinah, 27 from the island of Naifaru in Lhaviyani Atoll, who is accused of robbery and attacking a minor.

The police did not disclose further information on the case but said that police will provide security for anyone who can provide information regarding the whereabouts of the person.

Police asked anyone with any information regarding the person to contact police hotline 3322111 or police family and child protection department 9790163 or police emergency hotline 119.

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Police arrest MDP activist accused of vandalism during protest

Police have arrested a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activist on allegations that he had vandalised a CCTV camera on Chandhanee Magu and attacked a police officer during an MDP protest on October 5.

In a statement, police said that Kamil Ibrahim of Beach Rest house in Ukulhas North Ari Atoll, was arrested yesterday (2 October) at around 11:30pm in a special operation conducted by the police, while he was staying at a house named Bahurein in Maafannu ward.

Police said that on October 5, Kamil Ibrahim broke through the police barricades and entered the green zone, vandalized a police CCTV camera installed in the junction where Chandhanee Magu and Orchid Magu meets and attacked a police officer in the area after threatening several police officers using a weapon and attempting to assault police officers.

Police said that the special operation was conducted after intelligence received information that Kamil was hiding in the house.

It was also revealed that two other men, suspected of being accomplices in hiding Kamil, have been sent summon chits to produce themselves to the police headquarters.

On October 13, police had issued a statement warning that legal action will be taken against anyone who assists Kamil Ibrahim in hiding from police.

On October 5, the MDP held a large protest calling for immediate elections. The meeting was attended by several senior MDP members and MPs including vice presidential candidate Dr Mustafa Lutfi, Chairperson ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik and MPs Imthiyaz Fahmy, Ahmed Rasheed, Ahmed Sameer, Mohamed Shifaz, Mohamed Gasam and Ahmed Easa

The following day police issued a statement announcing that 12 MDP activists were arrested on charges of assaulting police officers, disobeying police orders, and obstructing police duties.

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