Police

Suspects in Rilwan’s abduction transferred to house arrest

Two suspects arrested earlier this month in connection with the abduction of The Maldives Independent journalist Ahmed Rilwan was transferred to house arrest on Friday.

“No sympathy for people like us:” Milestones in the life of a Maldivian death row prisoner

Hussain Humam Ahmed, 22 years, is on death row for the murder of MP Afrasheem Ali. His family fears he was framed and judged guilty because of his background of poverty and violence.

Prosecutors return charges against MP Mahloof

Citing insufficient evidence, the Prosecutor General’s office has declined to prosecute Independent MP Ahmed Mahloof on a charge of assaulting a police officer during an anti-government protest in Malé on March 11.

Maldivian man arrested over gangster’s murder in Colombo

The arrest of the 28-year-old is the first made in Malé over the killing of the murder of Maldivian national and notorious gangster Hussain Razeen ‘Rabarey’ in Colombo.

Police defend blocking silent march for press freedom

The journalists were not allowed to march as closing down the capital’s main thoroughfare would have caused traffic jams and posed difficulties to pedestrians and businesses, the police said. The journalists accused the police of violating their right to freedom of assembly, which is guaranteed in the constitution “without prior permission of the state.”

Notorious gangster arrested over Rilwan’s abduction

The owner of a car suspected to have been used in the abduction of The Maldives Independent journalist Ahmed Rilwan was arrested Tuesday.

Concerns mount over Maldives press freedom after mass arrests

US Ambassador to the Maldives Atul Keshap met this morning with some of the 18 journalists arrested Sunday from a sit-in protest outside the president’s office amidst mounting concern over declining press freedom in the Maldives. The reporters were released after ten hours.

Government wants to grant police prosecution powers

Home Minister Umar Naseer says the government is planning to grant police the authority to prosecute petty crimes in a bid to speed up long-pending criminal trials. The opposition has labelled the move an attempt to jail dissidents.

16 journalists arrested in police crackdown on sit-in protest

The police have violently cracked down on a peaceful sit-down protest staged by journalists outside the president’s office this morning, arresting more than 15 reporters from various media outlets. Riot police officers used pepper spray and violently pushed and shoved journalists behind barricades in front of the Velaanage office building.

Three suspects hand themselves over to police for ‘MoniCon’ tagging

Three suspected gang members wanted by the police to enforce monitoring and control orders granted by the High Court voluntarily handed themselves over last night. Upon request by the police and the home ministry, the High Court issued the first ‘MoniCon’ orders last week to electronically tag 11 gang members under the controversial 2015 Anti-Terrorism Act.

Police searching for three suspected gang members with ‘MoniCon’ orders

The police are searching for three young men in order to enforce monitoring and control (MoniCon) orders granted by the High Court to electronically tag and monitor their whereabouts.

Police set new restrictions on lawyer visits to detainees

Detainees can now meet their lawyers for 90 minutes, twice a week, between 9:00am to 10:00pm on working days. Family visits are limited to one hour every two weeks.

Army deployed amidst clashes between police and gangs

Soldiers were deployed to the streets of Malé at midnight on Saturday in the wake of reported clashes between riot police officers and a number of gangs.

Local market assault victim in critical condition

MDP condemns arrest of MP Mahloof from anti-corruption protest

The Maldivian Democratic Party has strongly condemned the police’s “unconstitutional” obstruction of Friday’s protest as well as the heavy use of pepper spray against protesters and a Raajje TV journalist and the arrest of MP Ahmed Mahloof.

Police dismiss reports of ‘cannibalism drug’

The police have dismissed speculation linking two recent assaults by biting to the use of a synthetic drug commonly known as bath salts. In a statement yesterday, the police sought to assuage public fears following widely circulated messages suggesting the assailants were under the influence of the pyschoactive drug, also known as cloud nine.

Mugger bites off part of praying man’s ear

A mugger attacked a man while he was praying at a mosque in Malé this morning and bit off part of his ear during an attempt to steal his phone.

Police fail to catch suspects in Malé whiskey rampage

Police officers failed to catch a group who hurled some 15 bottles of whiskey onto the streets of Malé last night but managed to seize their car after a chase.

Man arrested over luxury resort safe burglary

A 19-year old man was arrested on Friday on suspicion of links to a burglary on luxury resort Gasfinolhu operated by international chain Club Med.

Maldives opposition condemns police obstruction of anti-corruption walk

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has said that the government’s infringement of the constitutional right to freedom of assembly shows its “lack of sincerity” in inviting political parties for talks.