| SunOnline International

Last updated : 9 years ago

A special press conference is being held to display and share information about the firearms found in B. Hibalhidhoo, an island being developed as a resort. A large number of firearms were discovered in the Police-MNDF joint operation. http://assets.sun.mv/uploads/live_144629874851YRBq.JPG Speaking about the investigation of the explosion on board the Presidential Launch, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abdulla Navaz said that the security forces confiscated weapons from an uninhabited island. The weapons were found in B. Hinbadhoo. http://assets.sun.mv/uploads/live_144629865745ZPNE.JPG The Assistant Commissioner said that the weapons confiscated include MP5s. http://assets.sun.mv/uploads/live_1446298838415ri4.JPG “We received information about firearms and bomb making equipment were on an uninhabited island, that led to this operation.” Assistant Commissioner Abdulla Navaz said. “And so a number of weapons have been brought under the military and the Police.”

23:16

And with it, information has been received that the majority shareholder of SOF Private Limited, Mohamed Allaam Latheef is also close to the current Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Gafoor how is Police custody.

23:12

Abdulla Navaaz said that further investigation revealed that SOF Private Limited is a company that has close relationship with MMPRC. That includes a lot of benefits in the business to SOF Private Limited through MMPRC.

23:00

Police said that upon further investigation, it was revealed that Mohamed Allaam Latheef has a share in another company and the Police are looking into it. That company is SOF Private Limited. Their office is at M. Cessna with two shareholders. They area Mohamed Allaam Latheef (Moho) with 90 percent share and Abdul-Latheef Abubakr, who is Allaam Latheef’s father with 10 percent share.

We had to highlight this because, the major shareholder in these three companies, or one person working is, as the investigation has revealed is Mohamed Allaam Latheef.

22:58

The Police investigation has received information that these weapons and Mohamed Allaam Latheef are connected. Mohamed Allaam Latheef is currently not in the country. The Police are now working to find him. We are hoping, with God’s will, he will be brought back to the country soon.

22:46

Hibalhidhoo is given to a company called Business Maldives Private Limited. This company is based on four shareholders. And so the shareholders are Mohamed Riyaz, that is M. Boaddoo. He has 35 percent share. And then Shaheeda Abdulla, Benhurge, G.Dh. Thinadhoo, she has five percent share. And also Mohamed Allaam Latheef, his nickname “Moho”, M. Cessna, he has 30 percent share. And also another company gets into this. That is Gladian Private Limited. That company has a 30 percent share in Business.

22:45

We assure that nothing like this related to the MNDF ordnance will take place in the future.

22:40

We also would like to inform the people that With the information we got, under the supervision of the Chief of Defence Force, the military police joined with the Maldives Police Service, a complete investigation regarding how the weapons got out of the MNDF ordnance, the people involved and how it could happen within the system, everything has been investigated to the fullest and the steps that needs to be taken immediately are being taken.

22:36

For the attention of all the people of Maldives, we want to notify that now the MNDF system for looking after weapons have been improved, former systems has been revised, the steps that needs to be taken immediately taken has been taken and a system established so that all the weapons in the MNDF ordnance have been fully accounted for at all times.

22:34

We have noticed that these weapons are, as per the former system, if ranking officers want them, depending on their intention, are allowed to take them as per a regulation.

22:31

The investigation of the MNDF armory is ongoing according to Captain Ihsaan.

22:30

Two weapons from the MNDF armory was found on Hibalhidhoo.

22:22

Business Maldives Mohamed Riyaz Shaheeda Mohamed Allaam Gladian Company (30 percent share)

22:20

The weapons are related to a shareholder of the company developing B. Hibalhidhoo, Mohamed Allaam Latheef. 20

21:18

Police has said that they would host another press conference regarding the weapons confiscated from B. Hinbalhidhoo at 10 p.m. tonight.

20:08

The Police-MNDF joint press conference has ended. The information at the conference was given by Assistant Commissioner, Abdulla Navaaz, Chief Superintendent, Hamdhoon Rasheed and Captain Ali Ihsaan.

20:06

Police said that the investigation of the weapons found in B. Hinbalhidhoo is ongoing.

19:47

Seven people have been arrested following the firearms and explosives discovered in B. Hinbalhidhoo.

19:43

The explosives found on B. Hinbalhidhoo can be detonated from anywhere, anytime.

19:40

Phone or remote detonation devices were found on the island.

19:39

Plastic explosives were also found in B. Hinbalhidhoo.

19:35

Ammunition for a long range sniper rifle and two M75 hand grenades were found. These two grenades have an effective range of a 15 meter radius. And it could injure people up to 50 meters.

19:33

Navaaz said that B. Hinbalhidhoo was awarded by the Tourism Ministry to Business Maldives Private Limited on 14 August 2014.

19:31

That includes a full system of AK T-56. With it, 121 rounds of 7.26 mm bullets. These have a range of 300 meters.

19:30

Navaaz said that the items found in Hinbalhidhoo and the explosion that took place on board the Presidential Launch is likely to be related.

19:29

The items found in B. Hinbalhidhoo are illegal in the Maldives.

19:27

Navaaz said that the Police noticed they attempts were made to create explosives.

19:26

Captain Ali Ihsan said that they found nails that are used in the bomb to create more destruction.

19:25

Navaaz said that they were taken from their previous hiding place and stored under the sea.

19:23

The first search was to find weapons buried in the group and to gain information about the. The hard work revealed that they were stored under water about 45 meters deep.

19:18

A house in Addu City was also searched regarding the discovery of the weapons stash.

19:17

Assistant Commissioner Navaz said that the information given by some of the people arrested in the Police-MNDF joint operation led to the firearms at Hinbalhidhoo.

19:15

Police-MNDF joint press conference on weapons confiscated from B. Hinbalhidhoo begins at Iskandharu Koshi.