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Deputy Transport Minister Shimaz Ali at a parliamentary committee. FILE PHOTO

1 remanded for assaulting deputy minister

Nahula also tweeted that despite any "defamatory" remarks against herself and her family, she would do the needful to curb corruption.

30 November 2022

By Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim

A person has been arrested and remanded to police custody in connection with a recent attack on deputy transport minister Shimaz Ali, police said on Wednesday.

When walking out of his house near Galolhu Stadium, a group had jumped Shimaz and assaulted him on the night of 18 November. Four days later, one person was arrested on 22 November in connection with the case.

A police spokesman told Atoll Times on Wednesday that a 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the case. He has been remanded in police custody for 10 days, the spokesperson added.

The police refused to divulge any further details on the case.

Two days after the attack, Shimaz tweeted that the "deadly attack on him was an act of cowardice propagated by politicians at the bottom". He urged the authorities to find those who are at the bottom of it.

Soon after Shimaz was attacked, an attempt was made to attack Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed Abdulla. An 18-year-old Maldivian man was arrested on 25 November under a court order. Thus:

  • A police spokesperson told Atoll Times that the young man arrested in the case has been remanded in police custody for 30 days

  • These two cases might be connected

Prior to the attack, Shimaz had tweeted on 11 November that he had been "falsely implicated", damage caused to his motorcycle and been sent threat messages. He also said that unknown people had started calling his family and were even threatening them.

Here's how Shimaz came to be attacked:

  • After transport minister Aishath Nahula filed a complaint with the President's Office seeking action in corruption cases against him  

  • Rumours went around that Minister Nahula was involved in the attack to her deputy, since the attack happened at a time when they were at odds

  • Jumhooree Party, which Nahula represents, denied the claim and condemned the attack

  • Nahula also tweeted that despite any "defamatory" remarks against herself and her family, she would do the needful to curb corruption.

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