Man arrested for torching girlfriend’s ex-husband’s motorcycle

A young man – who the police suspect belongs to a criminal gang - has been arrested from Male’ for torching the motorcycle of his girlfriend’s former husband.

Rilwan Ali, 21, Happy Life, Funaadu, Fuvahmulah City, was detained for destruction of private property on Friday, after he was suspected of torching a motorcycle parked outside Veliga Hardware in Janavaree Magu of Male’ City.

He was presented before the Criminal Court for his remand hearing on Saturday.

The court ordered for him to be held in a custodial jail for 15 days, citing public safety concerns.

In making the decision, the court took into account his extensive arrest record, that he torching a vehicle parked on the side of a public street, that he committed the crime while intoxicated, and the claim by the police that he belongs to a criminal gang.

Rilwan had confessed to the crime at court, saying that he committed the crime while intoxicated.

The police had submitted a number of evidence against him, including snapshots of CCTV footage where he is seen in the scene of the crime, statements from responding police officers, photos of damage to the vehicle and an intelligence report.