Man arrested for assault with sharp weapon remanded under Gang Act in Male' city

The Criminal Court has ordered the remand of Samih Mohamed, 28, of Thoathaage/K. Maafushi, on charges of assault with a sharp weapon under the Prevention of Gang Crimes and Other Dangerous Offenses Act.  

Samih was arrested on Sunday and remanded in custody for five days under Section 58(a) and (b) of the Act. The court noted his previous criminal record and said sufficient evidence had been submitted, including photographs of the scene, witness statements, and snapshots.  

The order stated that Samih was actively involved in the incident, which was a fight using a sharp object. The Investigating Officer (IO) told the court that Samih himself sustained serious injuries during the fight. The IO also noted that Samih had been on the run since the incident, with seven warrants already issued for his arrest.  

The court emphasized that remand was necessary for the safety and security of the community.  

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has previously said that, due to government policy, young people are no longer joining gangs, and few groups can now be classified as gangs under the law. He described this as a major step forward in protecting youth by restricting gang activity and imposing heavy punishments.  

The President said he had asked Home Minister Ali Ihusaan about the number of gangs determined active under the law, and the minister responded that very few groups remain.