Soldiers involved in drug-linked torture case suspended

The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has suspended two soldiers arrested for involvement in holding a man hostage and subjecting him to weekslong torture in a drug trafficking case.

The involvement of the two soldiers in the case were revealed by the police in a press briefing on Wednesday.

A spokesperson from the MNDF told Sun on Thursday that the soldiers were suspended as soon as the police informed the institution of their involvement in the case.

The case came to light after the victim, identified as a 30-year-old Maldivian man, showed up injured at the Hulhumale’ Hospital. He had his left pinkie cut off from the second joint, and had bruises and burn injuries all over his body.

The police arrested five suspects in the case:

• Ali Saamy, 24, Mehuraa, R. Kandholhudhoo
• Ahmed Saif Waheed, 18, Hulhuvehi, GDh. Gadhdhoo
• Mohamed Naushad Hussain, 21, Uthuruge’aage Th. Thimarafushi
• Mohamed Nafah, 23, Full Moon, K. Maafushi
• Ahmed Zayan, 24, Link, Thundi, L. Gan

Zayan and Nafah are soldiers.

The police also suspect the involvement of three minors in the case.

In Wednesday’s press briefing, Head of Major Crime Investigations, Chief Superintendent of Police Hassan Shifau told reporters that the victim was held hostage at two apartments rented from Male’ City between May 25-June 25, during which time he was subjected to torture and made to peddle drugs.

The police found drug paraphernalia from the apartments, including drug packings and scales.

Nafah is detained pending the end of the investigation, while the other four suspects are jailed pending the outcome of their trial.