Sangu TV pays off defamation fine

Sangu TV on Monday paid off a MVR100,000 (US$6,500) defamation fine in a cash-filled urn.

The private station started a fundraising drive to meet the Maldives Broadcasting Commission penalty, imposed after the airing of colourful language about President Abdulla Yameen from opposition MP Mohamed Musthafa last December.

“An urn full of cash has been handed to @broadcomMV,” the station said on Twitter. “We went to give the cash at 9:30 am and the money was counted by 12:15. Thanks to all the citizens who helped with #Faisaajaadi (cash urn).”

Last week Reporters without Borders (RSF) said the 2016 anti-defamation law was being used to intimidate and force the shut down of media outlets.

Media outlets can be fined between MVR50,000 (US$3,200) and MVR500,000 for a first offence and up to MVR2 million after the third offence, according to regulations enacted under the law.

The Maldives has fallen three places to 120 in the RSF annual press freedom index, after the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed and further restrictions on the media.