The Press Briefing held at the Iskandar Building was given by the Deputy Head Chief Superintendent of Police Mohammed Riyaz of the Specialist Crime Command.

The first case addressed was the assault which took place on the 17^th of May at approximately 18:20.

Chief Superintendent Riyaz informed the Press that the investigation revealed that the victim, Mohammed Shaifan [Aged 19] of K. Male’ Dhaftharu No. 3912, was assaulted with a sharp object by a group of individuals between approximately 17:30 and 18:30 near the shop known as Maziya Trade, which is on Majeedhee Magu.

The perpetrators arrived on motorcycles and the assault occurred while the victim was in the company of others.

Mohammed Shaifan suffered injuries which were about 3 inches wide and 2 inches deep near his lungs and backbone as a consequence of the assault.

He underwent surgery and is currently being treated at a hospital while three individuals have been taken into custody regarding the matter.

The individuals taken into custody are Mohammed Shirhan [Aged 21] of Zaheera Manzil, M. Kolhufushi and Mohammed Kinaanath Ahmed [Aged 28] of H. Lobby, along with Assadh Ibrahim Rasheed [Aged 18] of K. Male’ Dhaftharu No. 7644.

The second case addressed was the case of an assault with a sharp object which took place on the 17^th of May at approximately 18:45.

The victim, Hussain Siyaadh [Aged 19] of Uhdhan’di Ge, S. Hithadhoo, was assaulted at approximately 18:45 on Iskandhar Magu near the Mahchangoalhi Cemetery and sustained injuries on his back in two different places.

Investigation into the matter revealed that the assault was premeditated.

Next, Chief Superintendent Riyaz addressed a third case where Naseeb Saeed [Aged 18] of Venus Villa, S. Feydhoo and Mohammed Azhan Ismail [Aged 21]of M. Irasmic ge’ were assaulted at approximately 15:30 on the 18^th of May near the former location of Computer Plus.

One of the victims suffered injuries to the abdomen, to the shoulder near the chest and to the back while the other suffered deep lacerations on his back from a sharp object.

The Chief Superintendent further stated that though no one has been brought into custody regarding the matter, the Police have identified two individuals suspected of involvement and are investigating further.

Lastly, the case of the assault which took place on the 19^th of May at approximately 18:20 was also discussed.

The case involved Usman Shareef [Aged 19] of H. Dhimisk ge’, who was assaulted with a sharp object while inside a shop called Home X on Hithaffinivaa Magu.

The Chief Superintendent went on to state that the victim is currently being given treatment at ADK Hospital.

He further stated that the Police have found evidence linking some suspected individuals to the case and are investigating further.

Two additional individuals have also been identified and are being sought by the Police.

The Chief Superintendent also noted that the victims of all 4 cases of assault had Police Records tying them to narcotics, theft and assault cases.

He went on to state that received footage shows that the assaults took place during daylight hours in front of many witnesses and urged them to come forward with any pictures or video they might have related to the case.

He also urged witnesses to come forward with any eyewitness accounts and noted that the investigation has been receiving the full cooperation of members of the public before thanking them.

The Chief Superintendent concluded the briefing by stating that only by working together can the Police and the public protect the community from such unlawful and dangerous acts and that the Police have arrangements in place to protect the witnesses who come forward and other members of the public who aid investigations in different ways.

The retired Sergeant who was questioned and released while processing members of the public in different parts of Addu City was given no differential treatment compared to any member of the public due to his service in the Maldives Police Service.

Members of the public are being questioned and processed at night in different parts of Addu City as part of operations being carried out by the Police to ensure peace and safety in the community by reducing the crime rate.

One such individual processed was a retired member of the Maldives Police Service.

He was approached by the Police while he was near his home and was spoken in calm, respectful tones.

However, he did not comply with a request to be searched by the Police and requested that he be taken to the Police Station to be searched and processed instead.

The investigating officers complied with his request and released him after due process.

The fact that the individual in question was a retired Sergeant of the Maldives Police Service was revealed only after he was taken to the Police Station.

Despite this, there are some sources that report the matter in ways that distort the facts to the public and contradict the ideals of respect, dignity and professionalism upheld by the former Sergeant and of the Maldives Police Service as a whole.

The suspect in this case is Ibrahim Adam [Aged 49] of Dhebudhaaru ge’, HDh. Kulhudhufushi.

He is to stand trial for being accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a female minor from Gn. Fuvahmulah.

The Maldives Police Service concluded the investigation and forwarded the case to the Office of the Prosecutor General on 14^th May 2013.

The individual in question is Asim Waheed [Aged 31] of H. Finimaage’, K. Male’.

Asim Waheed is being convicted in a case that was opened after a special operation carried out by the Police Intelligence Department and the Drug Enforcement Department on the 7^th of July 2010, based on intelligence received by the Intelligence Department.

The operation resulted in the discovery of packets of what was suspected to be illegal narcotics in a room of H. Finimaage.

The investigating Officers searched the room in Asim Waheed’s presence and found a narcotic substance on the glass-top of a desk, prompting them to further search the room.

Their search revealed a bullet of what was suspected to be illicit narcotics.

The substances were tested to find that they contained 98.1771g of Diamorphine.

Due to eyewitness accounts and since Asim Waheed could not disprove his involvement with the narcotics, he has been found guilty for trafficking Diamorphine under the Illegal Narcotics Act [No. 17/2011], Article 103, (ހ).

Consequently, he has been convicted to serve a life term in a Penitentiary Facility under the Illegal Narcotics Act [No. 17/2011], Article 103, (ނ) and fined in an amount of MRF 100,000, which is to be paid to the Criminal Court within one month from the 21^st of May 2013.

The Maldives Police Service concluded the investigation and forwarded the case to the Office of the Prosecutor General on the 26^th of September 2012.

A statement by the EU delegation office based in Sri Lanka and accredited to the Maldives said that the EU delegation met with the Maldives president, ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economic Development and Finance and Treasury as well as other government officials, the Elections Commission, political parties and civil society last week.

The EU said it extended strong support to the democratic transition and stressed the importance of peaceful, credible, transparent, and inclusive presidential elections.

“The EU encourages all parties to act responsibly and to work together. It is essential to ensure that the outcome of these elections fully reflects the wishes of the Maldivian people, in order to safeguard the Maldives’ democratic institutions and to enable its next government to confront the serious political, institutional, economic, social and environmental challenges in the country. The EU has extended its full support in helping Maldives to achieve these aims,” the EU statement said.

The Maldives President’s Office meanwhile said that at the meeting with the EU delegation the current political situation of the country and the preparations for the presidential elections to be held in the Maldives this year were discussed.

President Mohamed Waheed highlighted the steps being taken by the government for democracy consolidation, and to protect and promote human rights in the Maldives.

“The president reiterated the government’s commitment to working together with the partners in Europe in this endeavor. The president briefed the delegation on the measures undertaken by the government to maintain peace and stability in the country. He further underlined the efforts being put in by the government to overcome the economic challenges faced in the Maldives,” the Maldives government said.

Dr. Jameel made this remark speaking at a program broadcasted on DhiTV last night. He said that he embarked the ark of PPM after much thought.

Dr. Jameel said that PPM is not the least worried about the coalitions formed by minority parties. He said that PPM is the party with the most capable and competent leaders.

In addition to this Dr. Jameel said that the past has shown that there will be lot of problems in a government run by various factions and parties. He said that in such a government various types of policies are sold.

Dr. Jameel said that the parties joined together to main the government supporting the person who ascended to Presidency because of the state of affairs. He said that despite this joining in coalition to run a government is not from the most beneficial of affairs for the people and the nation.

Furthermore, Dr. Jameel said that PPM has the resources and the experience to the win the upcoming Presidential election without forming coalitions.

Speaking on a RaajeTV program, MP Ali Waheed said that the validty of the Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court was decided with a vote given by Adam Mohamed while at the judges bench.

Ali Waheed said that Adam Mohamed is a worm in the JSC and is being personal against the former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Ali Waheed said that Adam Waheed remained silent when the legitimate government of Nasheed was thrown down in a coup. He said that Adam Waheed is worse than the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and lacks any ethics.

In addition to this Ali Waheed said that MDP will come to power and will weed out all the bad elements in the judiciary of the Maldives.

Chief of Defence Force, Major General Ahmed Shiyam has said that there is threats of terrorism in the Maldives.

Major General Shiyam made this remark speaking at the seminor held in Kurumba Maldives regarding the state of terrorism. He said that there are confirmed reports that some of the youth have joined foreign terrorist groups and some of their whereabouts are now unknown.

“Some of our youth have joined some terrorist groups. They have travelled to war zones and training camps. Some of them have returned to Maldives but the whereabouts of others are unknown. This shows that there is a threat of terrorist activities in the Maldives,” he said.

He said that although there has not been any major terrorist activities in the Maldives with the existence of radical political and religious elements in the country today might lead to terrorist activities in the Maldives.

Chief of Defence Force further said that many calls to terrorism and terrorist activities are being spread in the in the social media and this encourages youth to participate in such activities in the name of Jihad. He said that some hold terrorist activities in the name of politics and others in the name of protecting the religion.

Furthermore, Major General Shiyam said that in other countries such activities are perpetrated under different names including politics and religion. He said that regardless of the names used, the consequences of such activities will be bitter and disastrous.

Ministry of Environment’s State Minister Abdul Matheen has said that it is the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, MDP, Presidential candidate, former President Mohamed Nasheed is the only political leader who has no “shell” to seek refuge in.

Matheen said that Nasheed claims that those who join President Dr. Mohamed Waheed’s coalition holds no political weight and are those who have no shells to seek refuge in because Nasheed feels threatened by the size of the coalition.

Matheen said that the people have seen the political status of former President Nasheed in 2008 and the people will never give any second chance to Nasheed to return to presidency again.

Matheen made these remarks refuting the claims of Nasheed that the coalition of President Dr. Waheed is an “empty shell”.

Matheen said that it was Nasheed who sought shelter in Indian GMR and took the company as a shell because he lacks a shell. He said that it is Nasheed who travels around the globe is search of such shells.

The hearing of the case submitted by Umar Naseer calling the court to annul the presidential primary election of the Progressive Party of Maldives, PPM has been scheduled for today.

Umar said that the second hearing of the case will be held today at the Civil Court. He said that he has lost the chance to run in the election even if the Civil Court annuls the election.

Umar said that he was deprived of it because those who sacked him from the PPM feared that he might run again in the election when he submitted the case in the civil court. He said that he submitted the case to prove to the people that the election was not fair and just.

Meanwhile, in the first hearing of the case, PPM attorney, Guraidhoo constituency MP, Ibrahim Riza said that Umar has the opportunity to submit the case at the appeal committee of the party and Umar submitted the case in the court without carry out the appeal process within the party and therefore this case cannot continue in the court.

In rebuttal of this, Umar said that the appeal committee was under the authority of Yameen and therefore he did not appeal the case in the committee because the committee cannot give him justice while being under the influence of Yameen. He said that he can submit the case in the court even if the party has such appeal processes.

In the hearing Umar asked for a temporary order to halt all actions to be taken against the supporters of Umar in PPM.

The lawsuit filed at the Civil Court by Umar stated that the election was rigged. Umar said that there were 8915 votes of people who were not registered as members of PPM in the Elections Commission party membership registry. He said that the rights of the general members of the PPM have been violated by this and therefore he requested the court to declare the presidential primary of PPM invalid and void.

Umar filed the case while the case filed by PPM member Rahma Moosa in the civil court asking the court to declare the primary void was rejected by the court.

The verdict of Civil Court stated that the case filed by Rahma Moosa revolves around the primary election candidates and Rahma is not among those candidates so therefore Rahma does not have the lawful authority to declare the election void.