Maldives News
Non-lethal bullets discovered on uninhabited island
The police are conducting a search of a recently uninhabited island in the Maldives’ remote north after a group of boys discovered boxes of non-lethal bullets in an old water well.
02 Feb 2016, 09:00
Supreme Court proposes changes to new penal code
The Supreme Court has proposed amendments to the Maldives’ new penal code in the first known meeting of the multi-stakeholder judicial sector law reform committee on Sunday, according to the state broadcaster.
02 Feb 2016, 09:00
Jail term for contempt of court reduced, fine hiked to MVR100,000
The Supreme Court has hiked a fine for contempt of court from MVR10,000 (US$649) to MVR100,000 (US$6485) and authorized judges to suspend lawyers found guilty of contempt of court for up to six months. Jail term for contempt of court was reduced from six months to up to one month.
02 Feb 2016, 09:00
Shifting alliances: MDP votes to team up with Jameel
The Maldivian Democratic Party’s national council has voted to ally with former Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed in a controversial move the party hopes would “establish a constitutional government that represents the Maldivian public.”
02 Feb 2016, 09:00
Magistrate in contempt of court dispute dismisses allegations of sexual harassment
A magistrate, who is accused of raising contempt of court charges against a headmaster because of a dispute involving the judge and the headmaster’s sister, has denied allegations of wrongdoing.
02 Feb 2016, 09:00
WHO to confirm presence of Zika in the Maldives
Officials from the World Health Organisation are conducting tests in the Maldives for signs of the Zika virus in the wake of media reports that a Finnish man was infected by the mosquito borne virus during a visit last year.
01 Feb 2016, 09:00
Headmaster placed under house arrest on contempt of court charge
A magistrate court has raised charges of contempt and placed a school headmaster under house arrest when he accused a judge at the court of harassing his sister, an administrative staff at the courthouse, in a private text message, The Maldives Independent has learned
01 Feb 2016, 09:00
Court halts mass de-registration of political party members
The High Court issued today a stay order halting the Election Commission’s de-registration of tens of thousands of members from opposition parties.
01 Feb 2016, 09:00
Electricity restored on Thinadhoo after powerhouse fire
The state utility company has restored electricity on the southern population hub of Thinadhoo after a powerhouse fire left residents in the dark for four days. Experts are calling for a transition to renewable energy.
01 Feb 2016, 09:00
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
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