Boat blast: Some MNDF officers were arrested for destroying evidence

Credible sources have confirmed to Sun Media that some of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) officers who were arrested following the blast on the presidential speedboat, were arrested on suspicion of destroying evidence.

Sun Media understands that after everyone disembarked the speedboat following the explosion, some MNDF officers went on-board and happened to touch items with their bare hands.

Three arrests were made on Tuesday, 6 October 2015 in relation to the incident. One of them has been named as Mohamed Jawaz, who works at the MNDF weapons storage. The second person is Sergeant Moosa Zameer, and the third suspect remains unidentified.

Criminal Court issued 15-day remand periods to Jawaz and Zameer the day after their arrest.

Jawaz, who previously served in the Special Protection Group (SPG), is specialised in defusing bombs.

President Abdulla Yameen was scheduled to address the media upon arrival in Malé after the hajj pilgrimage on Monday, 28 September 2015. As the speedboat approached the jetty, however, there was an explosion on board which left three people injured.

The President was unharmed. First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim suffered four spine fractures, and has been advised by doctors to take bed rest for three weeks.

In addition to the president's wife, his bodyguard and a staff of the President’s Office suffered burns in the incident.

An investigation is under way which is being closely monitored by President Yameen. On Monday, 5 October 2015, a new security division was established within the MNDF. The Presidential Security Division (PSD) will replace the SPG’s functions related to providing security to the president.

Colonel Abdul Raheem has been appointed as the head of the PSD, and the head of SPG, Colonel Ahmed Fayaz, has been transferred to the post of Commander of Malé Area. Colonel Abdul Raheem has been appointed as the head of SPG.