Criminal homicide, gang violence and assault became a growing fear that has almost pushed the people to lock themselves indoors in an otherwise peaceful country, over the past decade.

While Maldives saw a steady increase in murder cases during the past few years, statistics show that the past year recorded the same amount of murder cases as the previous one, at just three. 2019 has been proven to be the year that saw significantly less violence cases compared to previous years according to the cases reported to the Maldives Police Service (MPS) over the course of the year.

Violence cases had plummeted significantly during 2019, compared to the last five years. Police received over 700 assault cases and over 200 cases of gang violence in the past and a significantly lowered amount of 601 assault cases and 129 cases related to gang violence.

Making the headlines into the beginning of the year were the brutal slaying of two foreigners, one on 10 January and the second on 21 April.

1.Within a month into 2019, the first murder was reported following a dispute between two Sri Lankan nationals which led to the death of one of them in Ellaidhoo, Alif Dhaal atoll.

2.The second murder was also the result of a dispute between foreign workers. Luthufaru went missing in Lhaimagu island of Shaviyani atoll in April, with the boat captain, “Kurimagu 1” on which he worked, saying that they found out he was missing as they were preparing to undock and that he was informed that Luthufaru was seen quarreling with some of the crewmen on the night of his disappearance. While his crew members were arrested, they confessed to murdering the expatriate worker who was living illegally in the country. The suspects confessed to the murder and recounted it to the police during the investigation. They are to have tied sandbags to his chest, knees and a yellow container to him before throwing his body off the boat, after strangling him to death. He was killed for allegedly attempting same-sex relations with a fellow crew member.

Just an ordinary man, Gasim Hassan probably woke up on the morning of 4 December, unaware of the disaster awaiting him at his regular day job.

An ill-fated Wednesday it was, when 59-year-old taxi driver Gasim was found lying face-down in a puddle of blood in Hulhumalé.

A few days following his murder, the association of drivers called on the government to implement the death penalty on the culprits, and to punish them duly, as stated in Islamic law. Close associates also said that they don’t believe there is “any reason” to kill Gasim.

Police retrieved crucial forensic evidence from the scene of the crime where DNA and fingerprints along with the weapon used to murder Gasim was found. The weapon was found inside the bushes on the side of the road, about 300 meters from where Gasim’s body was found.

Officers got a lead a week later, and arrested a man on 19 December.

Adham Mohamed, native to Hinnavaru island, Lhaviyani atoll, confessed to the crime the day after his arrest and consecutively slapped with a 15-day remand. According to the Criminal Court order, Mohamed not only confessed to the crime but also recounted how he did it. He is to have a history of drug abuse and mugging. Adham told the police that he never intended to kill anyone, rather to threaten his victims.

Initially in the capital city for a drug rehabilitation programme, Mohamed headed to Hulhumalé on 4 December under the influence of drugs. He was unsuccessful in his mugging efforts on that day as it was daytime, following which he got a hold of a knife, “to scare” his victims.

After several failed attempts, Adham headed to Velana Intenational Airport to try his luck, where he stumbled across Gasim’s taxi. Adham is to have grabbed Gasim from behind and held the knife to his throat. After Gasim screamed, Adham ended up stabbing him in the neck and more when Gasim attempted to escape.

While he was rushed to Hulhumalé Hospital with stab wounds on his neck and several other parts of his body, Gasim was pronounced dead on arrival.

In an effort to bring justice to the unresolved murder cases in the country between 1 January 2012 and 17 November 2018, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had established the Commission on Deaths and Disappearances on his first day in office. This commission has reiterated the authorities’ assurance that justice will be served for taxi driver Gasim’s murder.

While the rate of homicide being less, lives were taken following a few ill-fated incidents in 2019.

Five people died in a sea incident, in August. The incident occurred when a speedboat travelling from Nolhivaranfaru in Haa Dhaal atoll overturned en route Hanimaadhoo in the same atoll.

One of the most tragic incidents in the country's recent history, the chemical warehouse fire on 20 September killed Aishath Shauna, 49. By the time the raging fire was controlled and the officers had found her body, her body was burnt beyond recognition.

2019 saw a few accident related deaths as well, with two deaths involving vehicles from the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).