Suspect wanted for stabbing of Nasheed’s lawyer arrested

A suspect wanted in the stabbing of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s lawyer has been arrested in Malé.

A police spokesman confirmed that Ahmed Raaid, 20 years, one of the two suspects wanted over the stabbing, has been taken into police custody. He declined to comment on where Raaid had been apprehended.

The other suspect in the case is Shafraz Ibrahim, 23 years. Interpol had issued a red notice for both.

Lawyer Mahfooz Saeed narrowly survived the life-threatening attack which occurred in broad day light on September 4.

The Interpol website said both suspects were “wanted by the judicial authorities of Maldives for prosecution,” for “gang assault using sharp weapons.”

A source who wished to remain anonymous told The Maldives Independent earlier this week that Shafraz, was spotted at Sosun Villa, a property owned by the Maldivian government in Colombo, playing football with members of the Maldivian student community there.

Abdul Rasheed, who is in charge of Sosun Villa, refuted the claim in an interview with Sun Online. Shafraz has not been seen there since the Interpol notice, he said.

Shafraz, who resides in Sri Lanka, was suspended from the club at Sosun Villa because he had threatened its staff, he said.

Mahfooz left the Maldives in late September for further treatment.

The 26-year-old underwent surgery at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital to remove the knife lodged three and a half inches deep above his left ear.