Allegations of arson in boat fire, damages amounting to MVR 12 mn

Owner of the boat “242” which caught fire while docked near H. A. Maarandhoo on Saturday, Ismail Rasheed has voiced suspicions that it was a politically motivated arson attack.

The fire had burned down the modern boat to a crisp, along with cargo onboard.

The boat’s owner, Ismail Rasheed from Ihavandhoo spoke to “Sun” on Monday and said that one of his new boats being prepared in Ihavandhoo had been burned down just last week.

And that it was evident from the way boat “242” burned down that it was deliberately set on fire.

He said that the fires were politically motivated arson attacks.

Important points made by Rasheed:

• It was a politically motivated arson attack.

• Boat wasn’t insured.

• MVR 600,000 in safe when boat burned down.

• Boat cost MVR 8 million, damage with additional cost of cargo onboard amounts to MVR 12 million.

Officials and civilians working on putting out the fire onboard boat "242" on May 8, 2016. Photo: Dhuvas

“This is a politically motivated arson attack. Many people from Maarandhoo are saying that two explosions were heard before the upper-floor completely caught fire. They said the upper-floor caught fire all at once. Not slowly,” said Rasheed.

Rasheed said that the cost of the boat was MVR 8 million, and that the total damage from the fire – once the cargo onboard the boat was put into equation – amounted to MVR 12 million.

“There was about MVR 600,000 in the safe. The whole boat is damaged beyond repair – not just any one thing,” said Rasheed.