5 arrested after violence in Male' leaves one in ICU

Maldives Police have arrested five suspects in connection to a fight that broke out in a street in Male’ City on Sunday, leaving one in critical condition.

The arrests come in connection to violence between two groups of people outside the Vilimale’ Ferry Terminal.

The fight in question was the third of four similar incidents that took place in Male’ on Sunday.

The fight outside the Vilimale’ Ferry Terminal was reported to the police at 11:26 pm.

A police spokesperson told Sun that five suspects have been arrested in connection to the case, including three minors.

The violence left three people injured, two of whom received treatment from the hospital.

The first fight broke out near the Kuda Henveiru Futsal Pitch, located next to the King Salman Mosque, at approximately 07:00 pm.

The second fight was reported two hours later, in the Asaree Hingun in Maafannu district. The fight left a 36-year-old man injured. The man reportedly sustained a stab wound to his neck, and is being treated at the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

The fourth incident took place two hours after the fight outside the Vilimale’ Ferry Terminal, at approximately 01:36 am.

The case was reported to the police after a man was found collapsed in the Muthee Goalhi after sustaining injuries. The police said the man was attacked by multiple assailants, and that he sustained head injuries in the attack. He was taken to IGMH for treatment.

ONE OF THE VICTIMS IN CRITICAL CONDITION

IGMH confirms one of the people injured in Sunday’ violence is being treated at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

The four incidents of violence on Sunday resulted in injuries to five people. An official from IGMH told Sun on Monday that three of them remain under treatment at the hospital.

The official told Sun that one of the three patients is in critical condition and is being treated at the ICU. The patient in question was injured during the fight that broke out outside the Vilimale’ Ferry Terminal.

The two remaining patients are being treated at the ward and are not in serious condition.

The police are investigating all four incidents, but have yet to comment regarding the cause of the violence.

POSSIBLE LINK TO A 2017 MURDER

Sun has been informed the violence is connected to two secret witnesses to the murder of Nadeem Abdul Raheem (Nadey), 23, who was stabbed while inside Terminal Café in 2017, giving their testimony to the Criminal Court earlier on Sunday, re-sparking friction between gangs.

However, it is unclear if the secret witnesses were the targets of the attacks.

Testifying under oath, the two secret witnesses identified the defendant Mohamed Mafaz, G. Sharaz, as the person who stabbed the victim in the head. The witnesses said that Mafaz had been wearing a mask over his face when he attacked Nadheem, but later removed it, making his face visible.

Mafaz is a known gang member.