Head of police intelligence directorate replaced

The head of the Maldives Police Service’s intelligence directorate has been replaced, according to reliable sources.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Jamsheed was replaced by Ahmed Areef, the assistant commissioner who had headed the intelligence directorate prior to June.

The police declined to comment on the transfer.

Jamsheed was part of a six-member high-ranking military and police inquiry commission set up by President Abdulla Yameen to investigate an explosion on board the presidential speedboat on September 28.

The government has said the blast was an assassination attempt.

The head of the military’s Special Protection Group (SPG) was also replaced last week. Colonel Ahmed ‘Papa’ Fayaz who headed the SPG was transferred to the post of Malé area commander and replaced with Colonel Ibrahim Rasheed.

Yameen escaped unhurt, but First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim suffered minor bone fractures and remains in hospital. Two presidential aides were also injured.

Three soldiers were arrested last week.

Vice President Ahmed Adeeb’s two bodyguards have been suspended indefinitely, according to local media.

Correction: October 17, 2015: This article previously said two soldiers and an immigration official were arrested in connection to the boat blast. This is incorrect. All three arrested over the explosion are MNDF officers. An immigration official was never arrested in this case.