Police release photos of trio arrested from alleged gang safehouse in Male’

The police on Saturday released the photos of three people arrested earlier this week from an alleged gang safehouse in Male’ City.

The three were arrested on Wednesday in a raid on a house in the Henveiru district of Male’ – a house that the police believe is used by a criminal gang as a safehouse to plan crimes and store weapons.

They are:

• Mohamed Shidhaadh, 22, Bashimaage, L. Maabaidhoo
• Ibrahim Zaidhan, 22, Ma. Morning View, K. Male’
• Ahmed Nawaz, 30, Ma. Morning View, K. Male’

The police released their photos on Saturday morning.

The trio was presented before the Criminal Court hearing on Thursday. Court documents show that all three are arrested on suspicion of possession of a sharp-edged or dangerous weapon, after the police confiscated two knives from the property.

Nawaz was remanded in custody of the police for 30 days, while the other two were remanded for 15 days.

The police submitted an incident report, an intelligence report, scene photos and photos of the two knives found from the property as evidence against the suspects.

At the court, the suspects argued that the knives seized in the raid weren’t in plain sight. However, the court decided that it the photos presented by the police indicate otherwise, but stressed that it is something investigators need to clarify further when applying for an extension to the remand of the suspects.

The three were arrested under new anti-gang laws that came into force on August 26, that grant law-enforcement agencies greater powers to combat gang crimes, including the power to enter and search private properties and make arrests without a court warrant, hold suspects for up to 48 hours while denying them the right to meet a lawyer, and deny them bail.

The new laws also prescribe lengthy prison sentences exceeding 10 years and hefty fines.