Dhihdhoo council chief remanded for five days

Haa Alif Filladhoo Court has remanded Dhidhoo council's chief Ali Hashim by five days.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) had confirmed the matter to RaajjeMV. Police officers had arrested Hashim on the 22nd of May after having conducted a search on his residence, Burunee Vilaa in Dhihdhoo.

According to the court order Haa Alif Ihavandhoo magistrate court, the search was conducted following allegations of Hashim's involvement in the island council giving forged documents to the Local Government Authority (LGA) on the 01st of March and for the possibility that he might influence witnessses and destroy evidence.

A council member speaking to RaajjeMV said that it is believed the inaccurate documents mentioned in the court warrant could be some press releases issued by the council upon President Yameen's refusal to implement the initial Supreme Court ruling issued on the 01st of February.

While action had been taken against the council for releasing the documents, some of the council members had been summoned to Police Station for questioning as well.

RaajjeMV has also received information that Hashim was arrested while he had lodged a case regarding USD 5000 that belongs to him which was lost under police negligence.

A member of the island council had said that Chief Hashim had brought the money into office that day, adding that it was his own money for an upcoming trip out of the country.

The police had inspected the office that day in the presence of Hashim, who had clearly specified that he had kept USD 5000 in one of his drawers.

Hashim had realized the money was missing when he resumed office after a period of suspension and officially lodged a complaint at the island police station.

Hashim, a vocal critic of the government, is a senior figure in opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) acitivites hosted in Dhihdhoo.

Haa Alif atoll had been preparing for MDP’s primary election at the time of his arrest.