Zihan remanded for 15 days over arson call

Former Deputy Minister Hassan Zihan has been remanded in custody for 15 days after allegedly calling for the arson of three key state buildings, the President’s Office, Parliament and the Supreme Court. 

Zihan, a former MNDF First Lieutenant and former Deputy Minister of Transport, was arrested early Tuesday. Police spokesperson Ahmed Shiyam confirmed to Sun that his remand has now been extended to 15 days.

Zihan had posted a message on Facebook questioning “how come” the buildings housing the offices of the three branches of state are not set on fire, and encouraged such an act. He also wrote that “it’ll be fun.” The post was deleted about an hour after publication.

Zihan, who graduated from the US Naval Academy and previously worked as a naval architect with the MNDF, was discharged from the army at the end of the last administration. His close associates claim he was removed for criticizing the then-government. He was later appointed Deputy Minister of Transport by the current government, but was subsequently removed from the post.