Crime

Man fined MVR200 for assaulting wife

The man was charged under the old penal code, which carries a penalty of either six months in prison or house arrest, or a fine of MVR200 for assault. The new penal prescribes jail terms of up to four years but the constitution prohibits imposing a more severe penalty than the one applicable at the time the offence was committed.

Ex-defence minister under investigation over Yameen’s detention in 2010

Police are investigating Ameen Faisal on terrorism charges over the president’s military detention in 2010 and have barred the ex minister from leaving the country

Pakistani convicted of drug trafficking, sentenced to life imprisonment

Mohamed Asif was found guilty of smuggling 286 grammes of illicit narcotics into the Maldives in February. He reportedly swallowed 35 bullets containing the drugs and arrived on a Sri Lankan airlines flight.

Witnesses testify about coffee-table conversation in ‘sniper’ plot trial

Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, who is serving a 33-year prison sentence on corruption and terror charges, is accused of hiring an alleged Sri Lankan sniper, Lahiru Madhushanka, to shoot President Abdulla Yameen in October last year.

Trial resumes for sole Raajje TV arson suspect

The trial of the only suspect charged over the arson attack on the opposition-aligned Raajje TV resumed today after a six-month hiatus. Mohamed Meead is the only suspect to stand trial out of 18 young men arrested after the torching of the studios in October 2013.

Ex-minister labels his detention on cash smuggling charge ‘harassment’

Former Islamic Minister Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari was briefly detained Sunday at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike Airport for carrying large sums of cash in his handbag.

Police hunt suspect who defaced billboard of president

The police have declared a hunt for a man who defaced a giant billboard of President Abdulla Yameen at the artificial beach in Malé

‘Jihadis’ plead not guilty to terror charges

Ahmed Latheef, Ahmed Suhail Moosa, and Munawwar Abdulla are the first to stand trial for traveling abroad with the intent of joining a terror group after the offence was criminalised by the controversial 2015 Anti-Terrorism Act.

Adeeb calls fresh terror trial a “big joke”

Adeeb labeled the trial a farce when a judge overruled his concerns of procedural irregularities

Raajje TV journalist threatened with knife

A journalist with an opposition-aligned TV channel claims he was followed by two men who threatened him with a knife for his criticism of the government.

Activist ‘incited hatred’ with tweet likening police to tigers

The offensive tweet by Lucas Jaleel was accompanied by two photos, one of a dozen police officers confiscating tables at a tea party organised by the opposition in July, and the second of a streak of tigers playing in the snow, police said.

Police impose curfew on islanders over spike in crime

The police have imposed a curfew on the island of Kaashidhoo in central Kaafu Atoll and prohibited residents from leaving their homes in the early hours of the morning, citing an increase in theft and vandalism.

Trial begins for Sri Lankan man in sniper plot to kill Maldives president

Prosecutors said former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb had hired 27-year-old Lahiru Madhushanka to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen last October.

Two more May Day detainees sentenced

Ibrahim Ibadh was found guilty of grabbing Sergeant Abdul Rahman Hussain’s baton and hitting him with it and Ibrahim Rasheed was found guilty of beating the officer with a cone and a helmet.

Lawyers question charges raised over weapons cache

Lawyers representing jailed former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and former Colonel Ahmed Fayaz ‘Papa’ have challenged the validity of charges raised against the pair in relation to an arms cache discovered submerged in a reef last November.

Watchdog lets police off the hook over torture claims

Man fined MVR8,000 over ‘white underwear protest’

The Rasdhoo island magistrate court has fined a man MVR8,000 (US$520) for snatching back from the police a large pair of white underwear hung outside the courthouse as part of a protest in September 2013.

Ex-minister placed under police protection

Ex home minister Umar Naseer says he has been placed under police protection after receiving death threats from a group of unidentified men carrying knives.

Adeeb questioned over stolen funds in president’s account

Adeeb’s lawyer confirmed to The Maldives Independent that his client was questioned last week by the Anti-Corruption Commission about the large sums deposited to the president’s account at the Maldives Islamic Bank.

Supreme Court upholds third death sentence

The apex court upheld the conviction of Mohamed Nabeel on the murder of an 18-year-old man in March 2009. The full bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the accused was found guilty of murder beyond any doubt.