Masked men stole a suitcase with cash after threatening two bank employees at knifepoint at the Velana International Airport. The theft was reported at 4:45am on Monday, police informed the media, without disclosing the bank or the stolen amount. According to media reports, a Bank of Maldives bag containing US$ 100,000 in cash was stolen from two BML staff on the walkway between the old and new terminals. The money was to be distributed to travellers from the bank counter at the new terminal. The bank staff did not use police security in transferring the cash, police said. The homeland security minister revealed around 1pm that police have “successfully recovered the speedboat used in the crime and apprehended four suspects.”
The criminal court warned of legal action against former president Yameen after he failed to appear for a hearing in his bribery and money laundering trial. In his first public visit outside Malé since the High Court overturned his 11-year prison sentence, Yameen travelled to Haa Alif Dhidhdhoo to attend the 'Thilauthuru Award' ceremony as chief guest. Failure to appear or travelling without permission were punishable by law, the criminal court said in its media group. Prior to flying north, Yameen had reportedly asked the court to conduct the hearing online.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Yameen assailed the Muizzu administration and the ruling party-controlled parliament. Oversight bodies such as the Auditor General's Office and Anti-Corruption Commission are dysfunctional in the face of rampant corruption, he contended.
Following the resignation of Maafushi MP Hussain Riza Adam from the Judicial Service Commission, Manadhoo MP Husni Mubarak from the ruling PNC was appointed as parliament’s representative to the 10-member watchdog.
Parliament approved Mohamed Farshath as president of the newly-established Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission.
Kicking off a tour of Lhaviyani and Kaafu atolls, President Muizzu attended launching ceremonies for harbour development and a Quran centre in Olhuvelifushi. An agreement was also signed to reclaim 15 hectares of land and to develop a slipway for the island. In Hinnavaru, the president pledged to develop 100 housing units and presided over the signing of agreements to establish water and sewerage on reclaimed land and to construct a Maldives National University Campus and an atoll education centre. For Naifaru, he pledged an 800-unit housing project, expansion of the hospital to a "state-of-the-art" facility, and campuses for both the National University and the Islamic University.
Speaking in Kurendhoo, President Muizzu announced that local government employees will be on an equal footing with civil servants under the harmonised pay structure due to be implemented on November 1.
Nearly 90 percent of Maldivian youth are aware that tobacco is harmful but social and media pressure continue to undermine prevention efforts, a UNICEF survey found. A majority of the 105 students aged 16 to 20 surveyed this year were confident about refusing tobacco, but 63 percent believed media and influencers make smoking look cool.
Shuaib Abdul Rahman was appointed as the new president of the National Integrity Commission.
Helicopter operations and a government-run electric taxi service cannot be launched this year as previously announced, Transport Minister Ameen told parliament.
Parliament's security services committee instructed Customs to require all employees and their spouses to declare assets. The directive to enact the legal changes followed an inquiry into cigarette smuggling on a vessel owned by local fuel supplier Hawks. The committee's report, approved after nearly a year of deliberations, identified several operational shortcomings, including lack of 24-hour cargo surveillance and fraudulent invoice pricing. It also asked Customs to submit implementation timelines and ordered police to urgently investigate unpaid duties on the smuggled cigarettes.
PNC MP Mohamed Siruhaan held shares in a company accused of illegally clearing out 575 cases of fake Camel cigarettes in violation of a court order, the committee report revealed.
