MP Haitham's car on fire just days after accident, arson suspected

Former MP Ahmed Haitham's car was destroyed in a fire last night in Sri Lanka. The car had been parked in a garage for repairs following an accident the MP had been in just last month.

Haitham suspects arson, alleging that the car had been set on fire deliberately by some persons.

Haitham's wife Shajan Muaz Shaheem alleges that the couple have been followed by unknown persons for months now, with it first coming to her notice last May in Male'.

She said that while she had been riding as a passenger on a motorcycle with someone else on the Hulhumale' highway, a car had followed them and attempted to hit them. The incident had been reported to Police, she said, although another day there was a second incident where a car rammed into the car she was travelling in also on the Sinamale' Bridge.

Shajan said that they had also received death threats after the accident, but had received security at the time as Haitham had been serving as an MP.

Shajan said that on July 28, while they had been travelling form Galle to Colombo in Sri Lanka, a bus hired 'for political use' had rammed into the car. The incident had been reported to the local police there, but no resolution had been found.

No one was injured in the accident, but the car sustained serious damage.

"That day, me and Haitham, Haitham was driving the car. Then me, my aunt and uncle were in the car," Shajan said.

She cited the Sri Lankan police as saying that the bus driver had been driving under influence.

"We were not at fault. The bus came from another lane and rammed into us," she said.

"The [Sri Lankan] police said it is a threat, this issue goes as far as Male', so they should involve the Maldivian police in the investigation."

Shajan siad that the car had been 'blown up' while it was at the garage for repairs after the accident.

The car has been in the garage for about five days.

Shajaan said that they had been informed of the 'car being blown up' by the garage owner. In the incident, three other cars in the garage were also damaged. They are going to report the incident to the Sri Lankan police.