Court remands man for 12 days over social media calls to torch buildings

The Criminal Court has remanded a 25-year-old man in custody for 12 days after he was arrested on suspicion of terrorism for allegedly calling for vandalism and looting in opposition to the government's decision to award the Ras Malé development project to UAE-based Eagle Hills.

The suspect, Ali Jumaan, 25, of Kulhavaaige, Haa Alifu Baarah, was arrested after allegedly using social media to encourage people to vandalise buildings and vehicles and loot shops.

Police arrested Jumaan on suspicion of terrorism in connection with the posts.

He was presented before the Criminal Court for an extension of his detention, following which the court ordered him to remain in custody for 12 days.

Jumaan, who is active on social media under the name "Dethu", was previously among nine people arrested during a protest organised by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in May.

He was arrested during clashes between protesters and police on suspicion of obstructing officers in the performance of their lawful duties and disobeying police orders.

In a separate case, former Deputy Minister Hassan Zihaan, a former first lieutenant in the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), was arrested on Tuesday over a Facebook post suggesting that it would be "fun" to torch government institutions.

The court subsequently ordered Zihaan to be remanded in custody for 15 days.

The arrests come amid opposition to the government's plans for the Ras Malé development project involving Eagle Hills.