Car driver charged with reckless homicide in Samah’s death

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has filed manslaughter charges against a man involved in a fatal car crash near the Central Park that resulted in the death of a young man who had been visiting Hulhumale’ to take part in a marathon.

The accident took place in front of the Ooredoo headquarters near the Central Park at around 02:44 am on September 6.

Hassan Samah, 23, L. Isdhoo, who was employed at the Maldives Correctional Service, had been in Male’ to attend a marathon which was scheduled to begin later that morning. He had been driving other participants to the Central Park – where the marathon had been set to kickoff – when Mohamed Visam Sidqi, 26, S. Feydhoo, who had reportedly been speeding, crashed into him with his sports car.

In a statement on Wednesday, the PGO said that Visam has been charged with reckless homicide under Section 111 (a) of the Penal Code.

According to the PGO, it filed the charge with the Criminal Court on October 31.

The offense is a Class 2 felony, and carries a sentence of six years in prison.

Samah had sustained serious head injuries in the accident and died shortly after he was rushed to the Hulhumale’ Hospital.

Visam, who the police said was unlicensed, was arrested the same day.

He is currently jailed pending the outcome of his trial.

Samah’s death had been one of multiple fatal accidents which took place in the Maldivian capital within the span of weeks. The accidents prompted the police to increase street patrols, which statistics show have been effective in reducing the number of accidents in the capital.