Maduvvari man arrested for stabbing brother

Ismail Asif, a resident of Raa Atoll Maduvvari who was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison for stabbing a man on a vessel, has been arrested again for stabbing his own brother in the head.

A police spokesperson confirmed that a clash between two men was reported at 11:30 pm on Monday night.

A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident, though police did not officially disclose his identity. However, it has been learned that the arrested individual is Ismail Asif, who had attacked Ismail Hammaad on a vessel in November 2019.

Asif was sentenced to 10 years in prison in September 2022 but was required to serve only seven years and three months after deducting the time spent in custody.

However, he was released before completing his sentence due to a reported mental illness. His release came after a presidential pardon from former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in 2023.

The injured man was initially treated at Maduvvari Health Center before being transferred to Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital for further treatment. His condition is not considered serious.

A local resident told Mihaaru News that the fight started over a dispute involving MVR 20. According to the source, Asif asked his father for money, and another family member informed other relatives about the request.

When Asif learned that his request was being discussed among family members, he became angry and attacked his brother with a knife.

“The stab wound was not deep,” the source added. “The victim told police he did not want to escalate the case.”

Hammaad, the victim, was previously arrested alongside Asif in 2019 during an anti-extremism operation in Maduvvari. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl under the guise of marriage. At the time, Asif and Hammaad had clashed after Hammaad refused to take responsibility for thefts from resorts and islands, according to sources familiar with the matter.