Teenager remanded for 20 days over café hostage incident

The Criminal Court has ordered a young man to be remanded in custody for 20 days in connection with a case where individuals were held, assaulted, and threatened inside a café.

In connection with this case, a 19 year old male from GA. Maamendhoo was remanded under a court order.

He is accused of assault, intimidation, criminal coercion, and unlawful detention.

According to the order issued by Criminal Court Judge Ali Adam, the young man has been ordered to be held in a custodial jail for 20 days.

The investigative officer (IO) stated in court that Ifham had victims kept hostage inside a café for about three hours.

Police also noted that he threatened them by stating he would strike them with a glass bottle if they did not hand over their phones, and that he filmed them on his phone in a manner that compromised their dignity and reputation in front of those present.

Although Ifham’s legal counsel requested his release under conditional terms, the judge decided that he needed to be kept in detention for public safety and security.

The court order stated that the conditions stipulated under Article 49 of the Constitution, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Criminal Court Procedure Regulations were fulfilled.

The court determined that sufficient evidence had been submitted to implicate Ifham in the case.

This evidence includes the victim's statement, witness statements, a medico-legal report, a photographic report showing injuries, and snapshots from CCTV footage.