Maldives News
LGA seeks high court order to dissolve elected island council
The Local Government Authority is seeking a High Court order to dissolve a five-member elected council in the north on a charge of doctoring official documents.
31 Jan 2016, 09:00
Nasheed’s former rival Jameel to join the opposition
Former President Mohamed Nasheed welcomed Saturday his former rival and fierce critic, former Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, to the opposition, triggering derision and heated debate online.
31 Jan 2016, 09:00
Court prepares to hear second count of graft against Adeeb
The criminal court summoned today former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and two of his associates for a preliminary hearing on a second count of corruption involving the misappropriation of US$5million from a resort lease.
31 Jan 2016, 09:00
MDP calls for President Yameen to face investigation over Maldives biggest ever corruption scandal
The MDP said it had received documents via email that appear to show Yameen is “equally involved” in the corruption involving his former deputy Ahmed Adeeb and the state tourism promotion firm Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation.
31 Jan 2016, 09:00
Court bars defence witnesses in Imran’s terror trial
The criminal court has barred all defence witnesses in the on-going trial of Sheikh Imran Abdulla who was charged with terrorism over a speech made at a historic anti-government protest on May Day.
30 Jan 2016, 09:00
Nasheed prefers physical therapy over surgery, says lawyer
Former President Mohamed Nasheed could require up to six months to fully recover from a spinal condition, his lawyers have said. Azima Shakoor, the minister for legal affairs at the president’s office, told reporters in Colombo that the government would extend his 30-day medical leave on request.
30 Jan 2016, 09:00
Fake 500 rufiyaa bill of new banknote series spotted
The central bank has spotted a fake bill of the new banknote series that was introduced into circulation across the Maldives just last week.
30 Jan 2016, 09:00
Maldives sees wave of arrests on sorcery charges
Three elderly men were arrested from two different islands on a charge of practicing black magic this week. Another four were arrested last week. The police claim to have found “tools for the practice of black magic” in their possession, but relatives of some of the suspects said police had only confiscated Arabic books.
28 Jan 2016, 09:00
Opposition to take to the streets over Maldives’ biggest-ever corruption scandal
Opposition parties are planning to take to the streets on February 5 over tens of millions of dollars missing from resort leases in what the graft watchdog has called the Maldives’ biggest ever corruption scandal.
28 Jan 2016, 09:00
NGO accuses judge in Imran’s terrorism trial of ‘prejudice’
The Maldivian Democracy Network described Judge Bari’s behaviour as “prejudicial” towards the accused as well as in breach of the code of conduct for judges.
28 Jan 2016, 09:00
Adeeb transferred to a high-security prison
Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb was transferred from a police remand facility to a high-security prison on Maafushi Island last night, the home ministry has confirmed.
28 Jan 2016, 09:00
Hilton wins US$24million damages from MP Sun Siyam
Ruling coalition MP and tourism tycoon Ahmed Siyam’s Sun Travel and Tours has been ordered to pay US$24million in damages for the abrupt termination of a tourism contract with Hilton International, the Maldives Independent has learned.
28 Jan 2016, 09:00
TVM launches English talk show to counter Nasheed’s media blitz
Top government officials appeared last night in the Maldives public broadcaster’s first-ever English talk show to dismiss former President Mohamed Nasheed’s damning comments on rising terrorist recruitment and call for targeted sanctions.
28 Jan 2016, 09:00
UK will consider Maldives sanctions, says Cameron
“We want to see a change in behaviour from the Maldivian government to make sure that political prisoners are set free and yes we are prepared to consider targeted action against individuals if further progress isn’t made,” Cameron told the British parliament yesterday.
28 Jan 2016, 09:00
Police seek charges against suspects accused of planting bomb
The police yesterday forwarded cases for prosecution against four suspects accused of planting a bomb near the presidential palace in Malé last November. Hisham Wajeeh, spokesperson at the Prosecutor General’s office, told The Maldives Independent that charges might not be filed against all four suspects.
28 Jan 2016, 09:00
Court to hear Adeeb’s complaint of discriminatory treatment after talks fail
The civil court will formally hear a complaint by detained former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb over discriminatory treatment in police custody after the police refused to settle the dispute out of court.
27 Jan 2016, 09:00
Nasheed’s media blitz: IS recruitment, political repression, and 2018 election
In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour alongside his celebrity lawyer Amal Clooney, the 48-year-old opposition leader said he will challenge President Abdulla Yameen in the 2018 presidential election. “I think I will have to fight the next election. It’s unfinished business. Everything seems to be very half-baked,” he said.
27 Jan 2016, 09:00
Thinadhoo without power for a third night
The residents of southern Thinadhoo Island are without power for a third night following a fire that destroyed its powerhouse. The state utility said it could take up to three months to rebuild the powerhouse, but hopes to restore power by Friday using donated electricity generators.
27 Jan 2016, 09:00
Crisis in Thinadhoo after fire leaves thousands without electricity
A fire that destroyed southern Thinadhoo island’s powerhouse this morning has left thousands of people without electricity and water. Shops ran out of kerosene by evening as hundreds queued up to stock up for lanterns, and the island council is now rationing jet fuel brought in from the airport.
26 Jan 2016, 09:00
UN panel rejected government’s appeal of Nasheed ruling
A UN human rights panel rejected the government’s appeal of its judgment declaring former President Mohamed Nasheed’s imprisonment illegal, the opposition leader’s lawyer Jared Genser told the press in London yesterday.
26 Jan 2016, 09:00
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