Maldives News

Nasheed’s application for UK trip extension ‘incomplete’

The Maldives Correctional Service says it needs additional documents to extend former President Mohamed Nasheed’s 30-day leave from prison.

Ex-minister escapes graft charges, watchdog refuses to disclose details

The ACC has decided to close an inquiry against former cabinet minister Mohamed Hussain Shareef, citing lack of evidence and “reasons that cannot be disclosed to the press.”

Two state employees arrested over Thinadhoo powerhouse fire

Two employees of the state-owned utility company were arrested Sunday over a fire that destroyed a southern island’s powerhouse and left thousands without electricity and water for days.

Government wants to keep list of terror organisations secret

The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives is seeking to remove provisions in the new anti-terror act requiring the president to make public a list of organisations linked to terrorism.

Claims of Nasheed’s silhouette on new passport ‘an affront’

The department of immigration has denied that a silhouetted illustration of a man in Maldives’ new passport was a depiction of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Adeeb’s cousin arrested on arson charges

A man related to detained former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb was arrested on a charge of planning an arson attack in Male on Friday, The Maldives Independent understands.

Bank staff arrested over leak of transactions by company in MMPRC scandal

A senior national bank staff was arrested Thursday on a charge of leaking details of financial transactions by a company involved in the Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal.

PPM angered by former ally’s accusations of being anti- Islamic

The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives has condemned accusations that it was anti-Islamic by scholars of the religious conservative Adhaalath Party in a well-attended rally on Friday night.

Court reprimands prominent lawyers critical of Imran’s jailing

The criminal court reprimanded today two prominent lawyers who criticised the recent jailing of religious conservative Adhaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla on a terrorism charge.

Footballer’s midnight arrest over judge’s photo ‘illegal’

Top footballer Assad ‘Adubarey’ Ali was arrested Sunday over allegations of harassment by controversial criminal court Judge Abdul Bari Yoosuf, who had said a man had threatened him by taking his photo without his consent.

Majlis to resume with amendments proposed for terror law

The People’s Majlis will reconvene tomorrow after a week-long pause with ruling party MPs set to propose amendments to the new anti-terror law.

UN political chief assures support for ‘dead on arrival’ talks

Senior UN political official Miroslav Jenča has assured President Abdulla Yameen of UN assistance for all-party talks announced amidst continuing international concern over human rights in the Maldives. The talks however appear dead on arrival with the government and the opposition at loggerheads over the release of opposition politicians.

Police fail to catch suspects in Malé whiskey rampage

Police officers failed to catch a group who hurled some 15 bottles of whiskey onto the streets of Malé last night but managed to seize their car after a chase.

British MPs’ defence of Maldives regime stirs controversy

Three British MPs who defended President Abdulla Yameen’s regime against calls for sanctions during a government-sponsored visit to the Maldives have been accused of “deliberate manipulation of facts” by the opposition.

Judge requests criminal inquiry over photo

Abdul Bari Yoosuf, a controversial judge involved in the jailing of four high-profile opposition politicians, has requested a criminal inquiry against a man who allegedly threatened the judge by taking a photo “without consent.”

Man arrested over luxury resort safe burglary

A 19-year old man was arrested on Friday on suspicion of links to a burglary on luxury resort Gasfinolhu operated by international chain Club Med.

Government defends imprisonment of ‘extremist’ Sheikh Imran

“Extremism does not necessarily take the form of religious extremism; a call by an individual to commit violence in the name of a political ideology is as dangerous, and must be dealt with in the same way,” the foreign ministry said in a statement defending Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran’s terrorism conviction.

Omnia paid £200,000 by company implicated in Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal

Omnia Strategy, a legal consultancy firm chaired by Cherie Blair, the wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, was paid more than £200,000 by a company implicated in the Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal, The Daily Mail has revealed.

‘A step backward’: US and UK condemns Sheikh Imran’s terrorism conviction

Nasheed seeks 60-day extension of medical leave

Doctors estimate “it would take six to eight weeks for the initial stages of the treatment,” reads a letter Nasheed’s lawyer Hassan Latheef sent to Commissioner of Prisons Mohamed Husham on February 14.