Maldives News

Probe into seaplane crash

A Maldivian Seaplane aircraft, operated by state-owned Island Aviation Services, crashed while attempting to land at the airport lagoon on Thursday afternoon due to a sudden gust of wind.

European parliament calls for targeted sanctions over ‘dramatic deterioration’ of Maldives democracy

The resolution urged member states to “publish travel information, warning European citizens about the great discrepancy in the Maldives between the liberal treatment reserved to foreign tourists in complete segregation from the Maldivian population and the increasingly repressive rules applying to its citizens”.

Opposition lawmakers summoned to police

Three opposition lawmakers were Thursday summoned to police headquarters as investigations continue into the alleged obstruction and assault of security officers inside the parliament chamber earlier this year.

State utility firms running huge losses

State utility firms are operating at a loss, a parliamentary committee has heard, with one power company’s debt standing at around MVR1.6 billion (US$103 million).

Bangladesh ambassador urges ‘proper investigation’ into expat death

A 40-year-old Bangladeshi man has been found dead with severe head wounds at a Hulhumalé construction site, prompting concern and regret from the country’s ambassador.

Climate change ‘big unknown,’ says Game of Thrones star

Coster-Waldau was in the Maldives on a three-day trip as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador and visited an atoll where several UNDP projects are located.

Prisons authority asks for police help to bring back Gasim

The Maldives prisons authority has formally sought police assistance to bring back Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim, whose medical leave in Singapore expired Monday night.

Maldives death penalty delays will be resolved by October 8

Religious scholar sex assault trial starts

The preliminary hearing involving Sheikh Mohamed Shafiu was closed to the media and public to protect the rights of the underage student, who accused the former university lecturer of sexual assault.

Media warned over online video coverage from MPs

Gasim can be declared fugitive says prison authority

Man fined almost $10,000 for caging endangered turtles

Mohamed Musthafa from the island of Maakurathu in Raa atoll was fined MVR149,000 ($9,600), the first penalty of its kind imposed for caging the creatures.

Maldives’ anti-black magic legal measures need ‘streamlining’

Sorcery-related arrests have been common in recent years, but suspects are often released soon after without charge due to the complexity of legal action. The current penal code does not have a specific provision for black magic and sorcery.

Maldives anti-corruption watchdog assessed

Only one corruption-related case reached conviction between 2010 and 2014 despite 175 cases being submitted for prosecution by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Dhidhoo council president suspended over housing ministry row

The council president of Dhidhoo island in northern Haa Alif atoll has been suspended in connection with a pending investigation related to newly built housing units on the island.

Suspension lifted for sixteen more lawyers

The suspension was reportedly lifted after the lawyers formally apologised in writing to the apex court for signing a petition calling for judicial reform.

Maldives ministry stats show rising child sexual abuse

Man arrested for ‘taking part’ in fatal stabbing

A 23-year-old has been arrested for “physically taking part” in the murder of a man in Hulhumalé, police said Sunday, but they refused to comment on whether they were looking for anyone else who might have been involved.

Four arrested with ‘party drugs’ after death of two youth

Ahmed Haameen, from the island of Thimarafushi in Thaa atoll, and Fathmath Sama, from the capital Malé, were pronounced dead on arrival at the Hulhumalé hospital around 8:30 pm on Thursday night

Young man murdered in Hulhumalé

The police conducted a security operation in Malé after a 23-year-old man was also stabbed in a gang fight near the parliament house around 11:30 pm last night.