Tag: Weapons

Police charge nine men and two minors in connection with May stabbing

Police have concluded an investigation into a case involving a young man attacked with sharp weapons in May, and have sent the names of nine men and two minors to the Prosecutor General (PG)’s office for prosecution.

Police identified the nine men as Anas Hussein, 19 of Hinnavaru in Lhaviyani Atoll, Midhath Ibrahim, 18, of Dhevvadhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Mohamed Fareed, 18 of Male’, Hanif Imthiyaz, 18 of Baarah in Haa Alifu Atoll, Shifan Jameel, 20 of Villingili in Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Ahmed Mafaz, 26 of Addu City, Abdulla Naasihu, 18 of Kondey in Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Abdul Muhaimin Ahmed, 20 of Rathafandhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll and Nafeel Abdul Gadhir, 27 of Dhaandhoo in Gaafu Alifu Atoll.

Police said the nine persons stormed into a shop on Hithahfiniva Magu in the Henveiru ward of Male and assaulted a young man inside the shop on May 19 at about 6:20pm.

The investigation into the case was concluded on July 21 and was sent to the PG the same day, police stated.

The local media reports said the young man had run into the shop to escape from a group that was trying to attack him, and was hiding behind the counter when the group entered.

The victim was stabbed two places, local media reported.

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Police confiscate stashed weapons from house of Fiqh Academy Vice President

Police have confiscated a stash of weapons believed to have used in gang violence under under a staircase in the home of Vice President of the Fiqh Academy, Dr Mohamed Iyaz Abdul Latheef.

According to local media reports, the weapons confiscated included a metal rod, a Kathivalhi (a traditional heavy duty knife used to chop trees), a wig and a face mask.

Speaking to Minivan News, a police media official confirmed that they had found weapons stored at a house in Male’ but would confirm if this belonged to Dr Latheef.

“No arrests or summons have been yet made. But we are currently investigating the case,” said the official.

Speaking to Haveeru, Latheef said the stash was discovered by a tenant who lived in the same residence at around 2:15pm.

“Once we saw those things, we contacted the police. Then the police called us back and requested everyone in the house not to touch them,” Latheef said.

Latheef also told Haveeru that despite the discovery of weapon stash at his own residence, he had not received any physical threats from anybody.

The discovery comes at a time where police have begun taking extra measures in curbing gang violence following four stabbing incidents within 48 hours. Police have said 11 suspects have been taken into custody with regard to the incidents.

In a statement released earlier, police claimed that the 11 individuals, all male suspects between 17 and 27 years of age, were detained on the 9th floor of the Aroodhaage building in Male’ as part of investigations.

The attacks prompted the police to form a special task force consisting of members from the Forensics Directorate, Intelligence and Covert Policing Command, Information and Communication Directorate, Central Operations Command and Technical Police from the Divisional Operations Command of the Maldives Police Service.

Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz said members of the task force were now searching for 50 “high-profile” suspects alleged to have had involvement with gang-related activities

“They are a threat to the society. We consider everyone, who had not been punished for a crime they had committed, as a criminal at large,” he told the local media.

The Commissioner of Police previously alleged that politicians were most often responsible for encouraging gang-related activities in the capital island Male’.

The claims echoed the findings of a report into the country’s gang culture published last year by the Asia Foundation that found politicians and businessmen paid gangs to assault rivals, damage property, and in some cases have opponents killed.

Minivan News was unable to contact Dr Latheef for comment at time of press.

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Gang members on front lines of ‘cost of living’ protest, claim police, arresting 52

Police arrested 52 persons during last night’s protest who they claim are connected to various gangs in Male’.

A group of youths, led by opposition MPs, have commenced series of protest demanding the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed after the government decided to shift the fixed Rf12.85 dollar exchange rate within a 20 percent band.

Police said those arrested were known to be involved in crimes such as robberies, assault and battery and theft.

”We would like to note that gang members active on the front line of such protests at a time when the police are trying to curb the rise in gang related crimes could potentially obstruct the work of police,” said police in a statement. ”We advise people to conduct any activities that obstruct work by police to try make the society peaceful.”

”Some of the protesters who were covering their faces were reported to have sharp knives and such weapons with them,” police said, adding that some of the handmade explosives used in the demonstration could have potentially caused casualties.

Police also said that owners of shops near the intersection the protesters have called ”Tahrir Square” have repeatedly complained that the protest was causing damage to their businesses.

”Therefore, we would also like to remind protest organisers that the protest disturbs the residents of the area and causes damage to the business of shops located in the area,” said police.

Police appealed to politicians to cooperate with the work of the police to curb the rising crime rate in the Maldives.

The Police request for political cooperation comes after opposition MPs have said they would not pass the Crime Prevention Bill presented to the parliament which gives police the authority to search houses without a court warrant, suspend the right to remain silent all persons accused of crimes mentioned in the bill, and grants them the authority to hold persons in detention for 90 hours without a court warrant.

The bill has a ‘sunset clause’ making it active for 18 months, however the international community has expressed concern that the bill contradicts rights guaranteed in the constitution.

Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) MP Riyaz Rasheed told the press that he did not trust the police to provide them so much power, alleging that that police were violent and brutal in dispersing Saturday night’s protest, and that police would misuse those powers to arrest politicians.

No force was used during last night’s protest, police said, however a number of officers were injured by rocks, paving stones and other thrown objects.

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Mystery around Somalian survivors deepens as health improves

A nurse attending to the Somalian man who was first believed to be dead, and was left inside the anchor locker of a small boat after he was found adrift with five other men, has said he is ”progressing” despite his “serious condition”.

The nurse, on condition of anonymity, told Minivan News that the man was brought to Kulhudhufushi Regional Hospital along with the five men yesterday.

”The man’s condition is very serious,” she said. ”He is admitted in the Intensive Care Unit.”

‘The man has injuries to his back bone and shoulder and is very weak, she said.

The other five men’s condition is now stable, she added.

One of the five Somalian man was due to be buried on the assumption he was dead, after rescuers observed he did not move his body or show any sign of being alive.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said that the body was handled to police the next day morning, and claimed it was not the responsibility of the police to declare the death of the person.

Daily newspaper Haveeru reported that the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) confirmed the death of the man after he was checked by a doctor at  Haadhaalu Makunudhu Health Centre.

However, MNDF Major Abdul Raheem denied the claims in Haveeru, claiming they were “misleading”.

Abdul said that MNDF did not ask the doctor to check the body and did not declare the death of the body either.

”When Haveeru contacted us, we told that there was one dead body because when MNDF arrived to the island, the doctor at the health centre told us that five men were admitted to the hospital and one dead man was left in the boat in which they came,” said Abdul. ”We cannot ask the doctor, after he says a man is dead, how he knew that he was dead.”

Abdul said that later MNDF understood that the doctor also did not check the body.

Head of Makunudhu Health Centre Ibrahim Shareef confirmed the doctor did not check the body.

”Police and MNDF also did not,” said Shareef, ”and the doctor was busy attending the five admitted men,”

Shareef said the five men first treated at the health centre were now in a stable condition, leaving the only one man’s condition serious.

An official at Makunudhu said that “most” of the islanders believed the six men were pirates.

He said that there was one “very strong” man, who was really fit compared to other five men, ”and seems to be well trained for such incidents.”

”He was the only man that could stand up, while all others did not have any power,” he said. ”He seems to be the leader of them.”

He said that the alleged leader of the crowd answered even when other member of the crew were questioned.

”When we gave them food, he took it all and divided it among everyone, and he told everyone not to eat too much,” he said. ”Maybe because he understands that they have been starving for a long time and it is not good to eat too much.”

MNDF Major Abdul Raheem said that there was no sign that they were pirates.

”We checked their boat and the nearby uninhabited island also,” he said, ”they had nothing with them.”

He said that according to how the wind was blowing during this monsoon, anybody traveling from Somalia who lost control would potentially be carried towards Maldivian waters.

”But we cannot estimate how long it will take, because the wind blows at different speeds at different times,” he said.

”Somalians use those type of boats both for fishing and piracy,” he added.

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Petrol bombs and weapons found in Gan

Members of Gan Police Station and Fonadhoo Police Station found petrol bombs and weapons in the Mukurimagu Ward of Laamu Gan during a special operation, reports Miadhu.

The police received reports of the weapons at 3:15am and found them near the Aquveni area of Mukurimagu Ward.

The weapons included petrol bombs, knives, steel pipes and wooden planks. Police said these items would most likely have been used as weapons for assault.

No suspects have yet been arrested or interrogated. Gan Police Station is investigating the matter further.

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Five men arrested with weapons cache set free

Five out of six men who were arrested with a variety of weapons, including knives, swords and bats, have been released due to lack of evidence.

The head of the Serious and Organised Crime unit, Inspector Ahmed Saudhy, said the six men were arrested on 4 February when they were discovered in possession of the weapons and other items believed stolen.

The sixth man had been previously convicted and sentenced, but had escaped from prison. He is still in custody.

Saudhy alleged the six men were hiding with the stored weapons in G. Masodi, a house closely linked to the gang known by the same name.

The weapons were allegedly used to carry out assaults and robberies, while the items were mainly motorcycle parts and tools. Police Inspector Ahmed Jamsheed said that the police had recently received reports about missing motorcycle parts, much like the ones found in Masodi, which are believed to be stolen.

”We believe these people are involved in gang fights and other serious crimes,” Saudhy said.

Furthermore, police said that while they try their best to arrest criminals, they “regret” that some people help to save them from prison.

Jamsheed said the stolen items will be returned to their rightful owner when the person contacts the police.

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