The Maldives Police Service has confirmed in court proceedings that 21-year-old Maahu Hassan was operating under the influence of intoxicating substances when he caused a fatal motorcycle collision on Sosun Magu in Malé late last month.
According to police investigative submissions presented to the Criminal Court, Hassan, a resident of Th. Dhiyamigili, tested positive for intoxicants following his arrest on 21 September. Court records reported by Raajje.mv and Edition.mv reveal that the presiding judge ordered Hassan detained in custody until the conclusion of his trial, citing substantial evidence and the danger he poses to public safety.
The high-speed crash occurred at approximately 1:12 a.m. on 20 September when Hassan, riding without a valid driver's license, was observed weaving recklessly through traffic at excessive speeds before slamming head-on into an oncoming motorcycle.
The collision critically injured both passengers on the oncoming vehicle. One of the victims, 26-year-old Aishath Maahidha of Sh. Foakaidhoo, an Assistant Immigration Officer at Maldives Immigration, sustained catastrophic traumatic brain injuries and severe facial fractures. She succumbed to her injuries at ADK Hospital on 25 September. The second rider, a 22-year-old male, also sustained severe head injuries.
Court documentation revealed that Hassan was a chronic traffic offender who had already been apprehended and fined four separate times by traffic police earlier this year for operating vehicles without a driver's license. Under Article 49 of the Maldivian Constitution and Articles 59 and 60 of the Criminal Procedure Act, the court determined that pretrial release was inappropriate given the gravity of the charges, which include death caused by criminal negligence.
Following the incident and a wave of dangerous driving offenses in the capital, the Commissioner of Police directed law enforcement officers to apply the strictest statutory penalties against repeat traffic violators. Under amended road transport legislation, reckless driving causing severe injury carries penalties of up to MVR 500,000 alongside formal criminal prosecution.
Updates on municipal traffic enforcement are published regularly by the police service at police.gov.mv.