Maldives News
Court hears anonymised testimony in Imran’s terrorism trial
The criminal court heard today anonymised witness testimony that claimed Sheikh Imran Abdulla’s absence from a historic anti-government rally on May Day had led to violent clashes between protesters and police officers.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
Democracy Week rescheduled for February
The Elections Commission is preparing to celebrate ‘Democracy Week’ in February with a door-to-door campaign, debate, poster and essay competitions, quizzes, beach sports, and a family evening. The event was first scheduled to take place on October 10 last year, but was delayed after the September 28 blast on President Abdulla Yameen’s speedboat, which the government insists was an assassination attempt.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
Ex-tourism official pleads not guilty to graft charges
Ziyath is accused of embezzling of acquisition fees paid by a foreign company for the 50-year lease of a lagoon in Malé atoll. He reportedly admitted to receiving a cheque for US$1 million from a company called Ebony Pvt Ltd, but denied embezzling the funds.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
False hopes: the great bridge of Malé
Without political stability and the will to address pervasive social issues, including unemployment, gang violence and environmental degradation, the Malé bridge and the youth city will only be monuments to the government’s failure to address the real problems, writes Fathimath Isha.
24 Jan 2016, 09:00
President Yameen ‘lies’ about two-year accomplishments
President Abdulla Yameen falsely claimed that the family law has been amended to allow for the equitable distribution of marital property after divorce due to a “mistake” in the written speech, his spokesperson has said. Yameen said the amendments have been ratified, but the legislation is still at committee stage.
23 Jan 2016, 09:00
Nasheed meets UK Prime Minister in London
Cameron assured the Maldives’ opposition leader that “the UK would continue to raise concerns about the erosion of democracy and wider situation in the Maldives and it would also continue to discuss the situation with international partners, including how best the international community can make its concerns clear to the Maldivian government,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.
23 Jan 2016, 09:00
Translation of President Yameen’s January 21 speech
President Abdulla Yameen, in his first public address of the year, reflects on opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed’s temporary release from jail, and lists his government’s achievements in the youth, health and education sectors.
23 Jan 2016, 09:00
Two men arrested on charges of practicing sorcery
The suspects, aged 24 and 25, were taken into custody on Thursday based on information suggesting the pair were practicing sorcery or black magic, the police said yesterday. The police also searched the homes of the suspect as well as a warehouse with court warrants and confiscated “some items related to the case.”
23 Jan 2016, 09:00
Imran asks for change of judge in terrorism trial
Sheikh Imran Abdulla, the president of the Adhaalath Party, has requested a change of judge in an on going trial on terrorism charges, claiming that the presiding judge was prejudiced against him.
21 Jan 2016, 09:00
Nasheed to meet UK press on Monday
“In this press conference, President Nasheed and his lawyers will assess the political situation in the Maldives and highlight the human rights abuses still ongoing in a country most people associate with tropical paradise,” the former president’s international legal team said in a press statement today.
21 Jan 2016, 09:00
Supreme Court warns of action against judges over stalled trials
The apex court issued a circular yesterday saying that it will hear complaints from defendants and prosecutors and take action against judges if a trial has been delayed for an unreasonable amount of time. Stalled cases would then be “reassigned to another judge of the presiding court” or “reassigned to a judicial delegation chosen by the Supreme Court.”
21 Jan 2016, 09:00
Maldives hopeful of securing financing from Chinese-led bank
Speaking to reporters after returning from an official visit to China to attend the AIIB’s inaugural board of governors meeting in Beijing, Muiz said that the bank’s president, Jin Liquin, assured him of funding for infrastructure projects during an official meeting.
21 Jan 2016, 09:00
New court buildings require Supreme Court approval
The criminal court’s move to set up a courtroom in a police remand facility has prompted the Supreme Court to remind judges that new buildings require its’ approval.
20 Jan 2016, 09:00
Nasheed meets top diplomats in Colombo
Following his temporary release from jail, former President Mohamed Nasheed met today with the heads of diplomatic missions in Colombo and expressed the need for dialogue between the opposition and the Maldivian government, according to sources.
20 Jan 2016, 09:00
Customers leaving Dhiraagu in protest against chairman’s ‘plane crash’ comments
Customers of local telco Dhiraagu are switching en masse to its competitor after the company’s chairman sparked outrage with a Facebook comment wishing former President Mohamed Nasheed’s plane to Colombo would “land in the middle of the ocean.”
20 Jan 2016, 09:00
Ministers questioned over tourism corruption scandal
The anti-corruption watchdog has questioned Attorney General Mohamed Anil and Fisheries Minister Mohamed Shainee over missing funds from several islands leased for resort development by the government-owned Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation.
20 Jan 2016, 09:00
Fires in Malé causes millions in damages
A fire that engulfed an electronic shop in Male’s Maafannu ward this morning spread to a warehouse next door, destroying goods worth millions of rufiyaa.
20 Jan 2016, 09:00
India to donate military aircraft, new helicopter to Maldives
India has promised the Maldivian military a fixed-wing aircraft and a second helicopter, according to Defence Minister Adam Shareef, who is currently in New Delhi on an official visit.
20 Jan 2016, 09:00
Participants of PPM rally will be subject to security checks
The rally will be the first official PPM event since April 2014 with President Abdulla Yameen and party leader former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in attendance. In the wake of the September 28 blast on his speedboat, which the government says was an assassination attempt, Yameen’s rare public appearances have taken place with heightened security by both the military and the police.
20 Jan 2016, 09:00
Adeeb pleads not guilty to corruption charges
Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb pleaded not guilty today at the second hearing of his trial on charges of abuse of authority over millions missing from resort lease payments.
20 Jan 2016, 09:00
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