Café assault: Nepalese suspect in remand pending investigation

The Criminal Court on Tuesday has ordered the remand of the Nepalese suspect arrested following an assault inside the kitchen of a Male’ City café.

The fight broke out between two foreign workers inside the café on Maaveyo Magu, Male’ City last Tuesday.

Police arrested Sidhatha Gurung, 24, as the primary suspect in the assault.

The law enforcement authority earlier said the fight broke out between a Nepalese chef and a Bangladesh worker inside the café’s kitchen. The Bangladesh worker, who sustained injuries, was treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

The Nepalese worker was later arrested, and held in remand for five days through a court order.

The Criminal Court remand order read that the investigative authority had submitted sufficient evidence against the suspect to prove culpability, including statements from officers who attended the crime scene, photos, and statement from the victim.

The suspect was held in remand citing their release could impose danger to the community.

Maldives Police Service is currently investigating the incident.

Videos of the fight, circulating on social media shows the injured victim sitting inside a café. The victim is seen wearing a bloodied shirt.

Altercations between foreign workers have been on the rise lately, with another assault reported not too long back at the Artificial Beach.

Owing to the rise in such acts between migrant workers, Maldives Immigration has amped up monitoring efforts in public places.