Officials reported that on Wednesday in the capital of the Indian Ocean island, the chief criminal prosecutor of the Maldives was attacked with a hammer, an uncommon incident in this upscale vacation destination.
An unnamed assailant ambushed Hussain Shameem while he was traveling to work, causing injuries to his left arm, a police spokesman told AFP.
“There was an incident this morning where the Prosecutor General was injured,” Shameem’s office said in a statement, adding that he was in a stable condition in hospital.
According to police, there may be a connection to the criminal cases Shameem handled. In December 2019, he—a senior attorney—was elevated to the position of chief executive.
Three days before to the assault on Shameem, there had been violent scenes in parliament as lawmakers had rejected the nominations for three cabinet positions, including attorney general.
According to the police, there was no immediate indication that the acts were related.
Legislators from the ruling party made an attempt on Sunday to obstruct a vote on the cabinet nominated by newly elected President Mohamed Muizzu. The opposition and their allies control the majority in parliament.
Social media videos surfaced of at least one MP suffering from neck bleeding following a violent altercation within the chamber, which resulted in the temporary suspension of sittings.
In tumultuous circumstances, legislators were observed pulling off microphones and using plastic trumpets to interrupt the proceedings.
