Police ask for criminal charges in fatal accident near Central Park

The police have asked the Prosecutor General’s Office for criminal 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, and was reported to the police at 02:48 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.

A police spokesperson said on Tuesday that the police finished the investigation into the case and forwarded it to the Prosecutor General’s Office for charges on Saturday, October 19. But the police did not specify the charges it was seeking.

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. The Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court remanded him in jail pending the outcome of trial.

Visam has contested his detention with the High Court. He argued that Samah had been driving on the opposite direction of a one-way street, and that was what caused the accident.

He also argued that the Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court does not have the jurisdiction to hear his case.

But the state rejected the claims, and argued that the Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court has the jurisdiction to hear the remand case as the accident took place in Hulhumale’.

The High Court has yet to make a decision regarding the appeal.

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.