Criminal Court orders Hussain Shahubaan to remain in custody as police complete investigation into Hiyaroadhi arson case

The Criminal Court has ordered the man arrested in connection with the March 18 arson attack at the uninhabited Hiyaroadhige in Male' City’s Galolhu ward to remain in custody pending trial.

Hussain Shahubaan, 29, of Sabnamhouse, Lh. Maabaidhoo, was arrested on suspicion of arson and damage to property.

Police said in a statement on Monday that the investigation into the fire incident has been completed and the case has been forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office for prosecution. The court has ordered Shahubaan to remain in custody until the conclusion of his trial, police said.

Shahubaan has previous convictions for damaging property. According to Criminal Court records, he was sentenced in cases heard in 2022 and 2023.

Court records show he was sentenced to nine months and 18 days in jail for illegal possession of another person’s property, and 11 days in jail for damage to property. He also received a three‑month sentence for knowingly entering an unauthorized place, and one year, five months and 14 days for theft.

Shortly before the fire broke out, CCTV footage of a man entering the house was circulated on social media. The video shows a man arriving on a bicycle, parking it, and entering the house while wearing dark sunglasses and a white‑and‑black shirt.

The footage shows the house catching fire shortly after the man left. No one was injured in the incident.