Five charged over Hulhumalé drug deaths

Five people have been charged over the sudden death of two young people earlier this year.

Ahmed Haameen, a 22-year-old from the island of Thimarafushi in Thaa atoll, and 18-year-old Fathmath Sama, from the capital Malé, died at Hulhumalé beach after renting a guesthouse room for a birthday party on September 28.

Initial reports suggested Sama had drowned and that Haameen died after complaining of chest pains following a football match. But media focus later shifted to a suspected overdose or complications from using party drugs. Police found party drugs in the guesthouse room.

Mariyam Afa, Hassan Zidhan, Adham Shaheem, Mariyam Maisha and Ahmed Ameen were charged last Thursday with “not helping someone in need of help without a reasonable cause”, under which they can be sentenced to a month in jail. Zidhan has also been charged with providing the wrong information to police.

Police previously arrested four people in connection with the deaths but released them.

It is not clear if any of the four are among the five charged.

Photo: vnews.mv