Maldives News

Nasheed plans to renegotiate Chinese debt

Maldives blasted for destroying the environment

Tremors in the central Maldives were the result of reef blasting by a local resort firm.

Presidential poll date to be announced Thursday

The election is expected to be in September and will be held against the backdrop of widespread criticism of civil and political rights abuses by President Abdulla Yameen’s government.

Three Maldivians arrested in India drug bust

The Times of India named the men as Shanees Maheer, Ahamed and Ibrahim Fauzen Saleh.

Villa Group accused of bribing top judges

The conglomerate, owned and run by self-exiled Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim, is said to have for paid for luxury Malaysian properties for two top judges.

Tycoon funds airport project with US$4m interest-free loan

The loan is to be “repaid at the government’s convenience” with no deadline, the tourism minister told the press at a ceremony held to sign a US$2.5 million contract with the UAE-based Gulf Cobla to reclaim land for the airport project.

Support for Ibu if Nasheed barred from election

The veteran lawmaker has been described as the ideal candidate because of his efforts to unify the parties and political leaders within the Maldives United Opposition.

Maldives tax authority seeks US$20m from GMR

The Indian firm says it is not liable for any taxes due to an arbitration payout over the cancellation of its airport development deal.

Court rejects evidence list for Gayoom

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was arrested during a state of emergency in connection with an alleged coup plot. He was charged with terrorism and is detained for the duration of the trial.

President’s envoy meets Gayoom and chief justice in prison

Defence Minister Adam Shareef met the two high-profile detainees as the president’s envoy.

Undocumented migrant workers labelled ‘national security threat’

Around 130,000 migrant workers are believed to live in the Maldives, including 60,000 undocumented ones.

Jail sentence reduced for Supreme Court judges

Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Judge Ali Hameed were convicted and sentenced in May for influencing official conduct, with the presiding judge handing down a prison term of almost 20 months.

More than 100 kilos of drugs washed ashore

Police recovered 115 kilos of drugs that had washed ashore in three inhabited islands and two uninhabited islands.

Watchdog rules out corruption in selection of flat winners

There was outrage when flat-winners were announced last year with only the form numbers of applicants and complaints were filed over alleged lack of transparency in the selection process.

Suspension of opposition councillors continue

All five members of the Ihavandhoo island council have been suspended without pay for three months over alleged obstruction of housing ministry staff.

Audit uncovers illegal oil purchase for Kaadedhdhoo airport

More than MVR1.1 million (US$71,335) worth of oil was purchased for the Gaaf Dhaal Kaadedhdhoo airport last year in violation of public finance laws and regulations.

MDP parliamentary leader escapes prosecution

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was among 141 people arrested from an opposition mass protest in the capital on March 16. He was accused of obstructing law enforcement after entering the restricted Republic Square.

Maldives hits back at mounting pre-election concern

The government hit back after calls from Western ambassadors “to demonstrate genuine commitment to a credible, transparent, and inclusive election process.”

MDP defends legitimacy of primary result

Despite police snatching ballot boxes to execute a court warrant, nearly 44,000 members voted for exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed to be their candidate in this year’s presidential elections, the MDP claimed.

Authorities under fire after custodial death

The opposition spokesman says the Maldives now has the highest per capita rate of custodial deaths in the world with 13 in the past two years.