2 soldiers implicated in kidnapping case

Two officers from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) are among those accused of kidnapping a man and amputating his finger in May, with police revealing on Wednesday that the case is linked to drug-related activities.

A case of kidnapping of a man in Male for about a month surfaced in June. The matter came to the attention of the police after a man with serious physical injuries was taken to the Hulhumale Hospital.

The three were previously arrested and remanded in custody pending trial.

A 30-year-old man was injured in the case. Sharing details of the matter at a press conference held by the police on Wednesday, Chief Superintendent of Police Hassan Shifaau said the man’s body was examined and found to have been physically seriously injured.

“His left eye was severely swollen and bruised. In addition to this injury, various parts of his body had marks of being tortured with fire and being kicked," Shifaau said.

“In addition to these injuries, his left hand’s little finger was amputated from the second knuckle using a sharp weapon”.  

Police also announced the names of the five men arrested in the case. Two of them were soldiers.

The arrested are:

1- Ali Saamee, 24, Mihuraa /R. Kandholhudhoo

2- Ahmed Saif Waheed 18, Hudhuveli /Gdh. Gahdhoo

3- Mohamed Naushaan Hussain, 21, Uthuruge’aage/ Th. Thimarafushi

4- Mohamed Nafahu, 23, Fullmoon /K. Maafushi (MNDF)

5- Ahmed Zayaan, 24, Link / Thundi, L. Gan (MNDF)

Two of the five men in custody were arrested on charges of possession of drugs and using them in the past. Although the two soldiers do not have a criminal record, the investigation has found that they are connected to the criminal environment and living with such people.

Four of the five were ordered to remain in custody pending trial. Nafahu was ordered to remain in custody until the investigation stage of the case is completed. The five are still in custody as the investigation process is underway.

Apart from the five, three children under the age of 18 participated in the act and police are investigating the matter.

The case is related to drug dealings.

Sharing more details on the case, Shifaau said the investigation has also found that drug transactions were carried out.

“The investigation has found that the suspects are involved in drug trafficking through the victims,” he said.

The police said the victim was arrested for illegally detaining the victim's unauthorised possession of two apartments in the city.

Among them, police found the bags used to seal the drugs and the scales used to weigh the drugs.

During the raid, three bottles of liquor, a small rubber packet of suspected drugs were found. In addition to this, a cellophane piece with a suspected liquid form of drug was found from Zayaan.