One of the key drug dealers in Fuvahmulah, suspected of operating one of the largest illegal drugs network in the island, was arrested on Saturday night, the Maldives Police Service has said.
A Police official said that they had found a large amount of illegal drugs in his possession when he was arrested, but did not give any details. He said that the man was arrested during a special operation conducted in the island by a Police team from Malé and officers from the Fuvahmulah Police Station. The official refused to reveal any other information about the case as the investigation was still ongoing.
Police had arrested another key figure in the drugs business from the island earlier this month. Under the same operation, Police had arrested another man from Addu atoll believed to be one of the major drug dealers in the island.
October 19, 2009
Key drug dealer arrested in Fuvahmulah
Local man charged with murder of Bangladeshi acquitted
The Haa Dhaalu atoll Kumundhoo man charged with killing a Bangladeshi worker in Maldives, by hitting him over the head with a length of wood, was found not guilty by the Criminal Court last Thursday.
Ali Shuaib, of Raveena in Kumundhoo, was found not guilty because there had not been enough evidence to convict him. According to the charges against him, Shuaib had attacked the Bangladeshi man on 30 November, 2008. The expatriate worker had died on 29 December, 2008, while undergoing treatment for the injuries to his head.
The charges state that than an argument had erupted between Shuaib and some Bangladeshi on 30 November, and that Shuaib had attacked the Bangladeshi man as he was riding a bicycle down Fandiyaaru Magu that night. Shuaib had struck the man over the head with the length of wood causing severe injuries to his head. The Bangladeshi man had died while undergoing treatment for the injuries.
According to Haveeru sources, two people had testified at the trial.
President Nasheed speaks on importance of heritage protection
Protection of heritage is crucial for nation building, President Nasheed has said. He made the statement while speaking at the function held Saturday evening to inaugurate the “Kalaafaanu Memorial Project”.
He added that understanding, preserving and managing our heritage were essential for our efforts to build our nation.
In his speech, President Nasheed spoke on the life of Sultan Kalaafaanu and the historical significance of the manuscripts on Kalaafaanu. He said during the 400 years since the assassination of Sultan Kalaafaanu, his mausoleum in Hagngnaameedhoo has become a very important part of Maldivian life. He further said that the even though three dynasties ruled the Maldives after the Utheemu Dynasty, people’s respect for former kings did not change.
At the function, the President also launched a book on Sultan Kalaafaanu.
President Nasheed arrived in Malé on Sunday, after concluding his visit to Hagngnaameedhoo.
Adhaalath Party criticizes President Nasheed’s comments about penal code excluding death penalty, amputation
The Adhaalath Party has criticized President Mohamed Nasheed’s comments about excluding the death penalty and amputation from the revised penal code. President Nasheed made the comments during his weekly radio address to the nation last Friday morning.
At a rally held at Dharubaaruge by the Adhaalath Party, senior officials of the Party and religious scholars criticized President Nasheed for saying that he was hopeful the revised penal code would exclude the death penalty and amputation. Everyone who spoke at the rally said that it no one should be allowed to criticize, debate or alter the Islamic Sharia. They said that since the Sharia was God’s commandments, not even the President or People’s Majlis should have the power to alter to it. Speaking at the rally, Assadhullah Shafie said that it was the duty of all Maldivians to remove President Nasheed from power if he was against the death penalty and amputation.
On death penalty, the President said: “A fair, a very fair trial – in my view as fair as the justice delivered during the Prophetic era – must be ensured before taking a human life. I don’t believe that the Maldives’ judicial system has the capacity to meet all requirements for such a fair trial. Ultimately, the burden of pardoning or the burden of implementing death penalty is upon the President.”
During Friday’s radio address, President Nasheed had said that in his opinion it was unwise to make death penalty a codified punishment in law.
“I’m hopeful the penal code would be passed without offences punishable by death,” said the President.
With regard to amputation, the President said amputation as a penalty has never been the common practice in the Maldives. He said the consequences of the only two instances of implementing amputation in the past were negative and bad.
“I don’t think the penal code should include amputation as a penalty,” said the President.
