Court orders police to arrange home island detention for suspect

The Criminal Court has directed police to make arrangements for a man facing multiple cases to be detained in his hometown, after he told the court that he has no place to live in the capital.

Abdulla Shareef, 48, of Bodugasdhoshuge in Kurendhoo, was arrested on charges related to an attempted robbery at the Maldives Digital Service. He was produced before the court on Saturday and remanded in custody for five days.

According to the arrest warrant, Shareef allegedly entered the premises of Maldives Digital Service and altered the direction of a security camera. Police said he was found eating during Ramadan, and that a damaged air-conditioning outdoor unit and tools were located nearby.

The remand order states that Shareef was arrested and questioned by police, during which he said he had intended to carry out the robbery with two others who later fled. He denied the allegation during court proceedings, stating that he went to the location because he was tired.

The matter was heard in a closed session on Saturday before Judge Safwath Habeeb, who advised the suspect in light of the number of cases against him. According to the remand order, following the advice, Shareef told the court that he had no shelter, was unemployed, and slept on the streets or in public.

Police noted that he had previously requested to be relocated to his native island. Shareef told the court that he had been unable to do so at the time because he was sleeping in public and his money and phone had been stolen.

The remand order stated that the court was of the view that, given his circumstances, transferring him to his hometown through police arrangements would address the matter.