Maldives News


Adeeb questioned over stolen funds in president’s account
Adeeb’s lawyer confirmed to The Maldives Independent that his client was questioned last week by the Anti-Corruption Commission about the large sums deposited to the president’s account at the Maldives Islamic Bank.
27 Jul 2016, 09:00


Supreme Court upholds third death sentence
The apex court upheld the conviction of Mohamed Nabeel on the murder of an 18-year-old man in March 2009. The full bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the accused was found guilty of murder beyond any doubt.
27 Jul 2016, 09:00


Police confiscate MP Ali Hussain’s phone over tweet
The MP is accused of obstructing police duty after saying in a tweet last Friday that everyone has the right to defend themselves against the unfair use of force by police officers.
25 Jul 2016, 09:00


Mahloof handed six months jail sentence
Today’s verdict comes a week after the lawmaker was sentenced to four months and 24 days in prison on a separate count of obstructing police duty. The MUO spokesman was found guilty of scaling barricades set up near the local market and trying to enter the restricted Republic Square.
25 Jul 2016, 09:00


Supreme Court overturns stay order halting executions
The Supreme Court has quashed a stay order issued Sunday by the High Court halting executions by the state pending a judgment on the constitutionality of regulations enacted for implementing the death penalty.
25 Jul 2016, 09:00


Six May Day protesters sentenced to five years in jail
Nearly eight months after their trial concluded, Nasira Ali, Ibrahim Laban Shareef, Farhath Ali, Abdulla Rasheed, Umar Gaahir, and Ahmed Ibrahim were convicted today of aiding and abetting the assault of a policeman on May 1 last year.
25 Jul 2016, 09:00


High Court issues stay order halting executions
The High Court has issued a stay order halting executions by the state pending a ruling on the constitutionality of regulations enacted in April 2014 for implementing the death penalty.
24 Jul 2016, 09:00


Press freedom concerns unaddressed in revised defamation bill
A revised bill on criminalising defamation and imposing severe restrictions on free speech was introduced to parliament last Tuesday without addressing concerns raised by Maldivian journalists.
24 Jul 2016, 09:00


Three arrested from opposition prayer gathering
Riot police continued to forcibly disperse the opposition’s weekly prayer gathering Friday afternoon, arresting three men and using pepper spray to push back the crowd outside the Islamic centre in Malé.
23 Jul 2016, 09:00


UN envoy departs with appeal for ‘maximum flexibility’
The UN said Tamrat Samuel “urged all concerned Maldivian parties to show maximum flexibility and commitment to compromise in order to overcome outstanding differences and address vital matters of national importance.”
23 Jul 2016, 09:00


Gayoom vindicated by Yameen faction walkout, says PPM
An emergency meeting of the ruling party’s council Tuesday night showed that some members are opposed to the reform agenda launched by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the Progressive Party of Maldives has said.
23 Jul 2016, 09:00


Regulator bans Raajje TV report on Afrasheem murder cover-up
The broadcasting regulator has ordered the opposition-aligned Raajje TV not to air a news report featuring a young man who claims police offered him MVR500,000 (US$32,509) to frame a suspect in the high-profile murder of a parliamentarian.
23 Jul 2016, 09:00


MUO vows to reinstate officers fired for disobeying unlawful orders
The Maldives United Opposition’s shadow cabinet on also discussed setting up “a special ‘Whatsapp’ phone hotline to impart relevant information to police personnel seeking to refuse unlawful orders from superiors.”
21 Jul 2016, 09:00


Opposition coalition gears up for first rally
The Maldives United Opposition is gearing up for its rally tonight despite the government’s refusal to grant permission to use a public venue in Malé.
21 Jul 2016, 09:00


Thousands gather for opposition coalition’s first rally – as it happened
The first rally by the Maldives United Opposition is underway. A podium has been set up at the MDP’s meeting hall, located on the outer ring road of the capital. Hundreds of opposition supporters have gathered on the opposite side of the road, filling up the artificial beach and allowing traffic to pass through.
21 Jul 2016, 09:00


PPM split worsens as ‘Yameen faction’ walks out of council meeting
Gayoom, the leader of the PPM, said the members who walked out objected to the presence of his son Faris Maumoon and Aminath Nadira, who they insist have been expelled by the party’s disciplinary committee.
20 Jul 2016, 09:00


Majlis grants ministers authority over top civil servant
Warning that the changes would compromise the civil service’s impartiality and meritocracy, PPM MP Faris Maumoon breached the ruling party’s whip line again and voted against the bill.
19 Jul 2016, 09:00


Opposition MPs protest in parliament over jailing of Mahloof
MDP MPs clamoured for the immediate release of their jailed colleague and called for President Yameen’s resignation. Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed adjourned proceedings shortly after the protest began in the People’s Majlis chamber.
19 Jul 2016, 09:00


UK training terrorists to attack Maldives, says ruling party MP
“There’s no room now to believe that what Britain is doing now isn’t keeping a few Maldivians there and training them for a terrorist attack here,” PPM MP Riyaz Rasheed said during Monday’s sitting of parliament.
19 Jul 2016, 09:00


MP Mahloof sentenced to four months in jail
The opposition coalition’s spokesman was accused of trying to “flee” from the police after a remand hearing in April last year. Despite the conviction, Mahloof remains a lawmaker as a sitting MP can only be stripped of his seat if he is sentenced to more than one year in prison.
18 Jul 2016, 09:00

