Committee to summon top police and military officials over illegal entry of oil tankers, Funadhoo blaze

The Parliament’s Security Services Committee (241 Committee) decided on Monday to summon top security services officials for questioning regarding the oil tankers that illegally entered the Maldives back in April, as well as the recent fire in Sh. Funadhoo.

The proposal was made by Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa, a lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

He said that both the Chief of Defense Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy and Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed, along with other top officials from the security services should be summoned for questioning and held accountable in both cases.

The motion was seconded by North Maafannu MP Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim from the Maldives National Party (MNP) and Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thoriq from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).

Nazim, the president of MNP, suggested that the committee should also summon Commissioner of Customs Fathimath Dhiyana over the tanker incident.

The motion was seconded by Thoriq.

Ghafoor’s motion to summon the security services officials for questioning passed with the unanimous vote of the committee.

On August 10, two oil tankers crashed into the Sinamale’ Bridge and on the Male’ Reef before sinking into the case. The tankers had illegally entered Maldivian waters back in April, and were in custody of Maldives Customs when the incident took place.

Meanwhile, the fire in Funadhoo broke out at the petrol shed in the island and quickly spread to nearby buildings, injuring 20 people.