Abdulla Maumoon, the former managing director of the state-owned Maldives Gas, was convicted on bribery charges and sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was found guilty on two out of seven counts of bribery raised in April 2024 over a petroleum supply contract awarded to 3DH International. The company was found to have deposited US$ 298,403.5 to accounts linked to the defendant. The case dates back to 2016 when Maumoon was the Maldives Gas boss under former president Yameen. He was also accused of diverting company funds for a welfare project by the former first lady.
With effect from February 26, foreign transaction limits for Bank of Maldives credit cards will increase from US$ 750 to US$ 1,400 for classic cards, from US$ 750 to US$ 1,500 for gold cards, and from US$ 1,500 to US$ 2,000 for platinum cards, President Muizzu announced.
The MDP's legal team condemned the conviction of former Fenaka boss Ahmed Saeed as politically motivated, accusing prosecutors and the criminal court of bypassing standard procedures to fast-track the case ahead of an opposition protest on Friday. The MDP lawyers defended Saeed over the abuse of authority charges raised over authorising payments for public relations services despite failure to complete work outlined in a 2018 contract. Saeed only signed a 2019 settlement agreement with Blazon on the advice of Fenaka's legal department to avoid a larger payout, they contended.
Prosecutors and former president Yameen's defence lawyers clashed during a Supreme Court appeal hearing on the admissibility of new evidence submitted by the state after the High Court ordered a retrial in the Vaavu Aarah case. Yameen is accused of bribery and money laundering over the lease of the uninhabited island for resort development. The apex court is due to decide whether the contested evidence could be considered in the new trial.
Auditor General Hussain Niyazi made 31 overseas trips in the past three years, spending 200 days abroad and drawing MVR 779,530 (US$ 50,550) from the audit office budget, Citizen revealed from data obtained under a right to information request.
Mohamed Bassam was appointed as the new CEO of Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators.
Police and customs raided three apartments and searched a motorbike linked to three brothers from Laamu Maabaidhoo, seizing a large amount of vaping devices, suspected narcotics, and MVR 111,880 in cash. The criminal court released Nashwan Mohamed, 33, and Nahuzaan Mohamed, 25, with conditions. Their younger brother, Nabhan Mohamed, 22, was remanded for three days.
Fishermen pressed President Muizzu for a clear timeline on raising the purchasing price to MVR 20 per kilo as pledged. They voiced concerns over declining baitfish stocks, difficulties in securing bank loans and fishing licences, and the need to upgrade MIFCO’s weighing scales. Muizzu declined to commit to the price hike. The government’s priority is ensuring that payments are settled within 48 hours, he said.
Former prosecutor general Hussain Shameem accused the Anti-Corruption Commission of refusing to investigate and prosecute ruling party officials. The recent cases against the former Fenaka chief were only submitted for prosecution after the previous administration left office, despite all investigative work having been completed. Shameem urged the introduction of a law requiring the anti-graft watchdog to conclude probes and pursue charges within a set timeframe, similar to deadlines imposed on the police under the criminal procedure code.
MTCC was awarded an MVR 47.5 million project to expand the harbour in Lhaviyani Naifaru with a project completion timeline of 360 days.
Former president Nasheed announced plans for a “high-level conference” on the misuse of state resources and abuse of authority. The conference, which he said will be organised with the support of former MMA governor Ali Hashim and former economic minister Mohamed Razee, aims to bring together legal experts, civil society representatives, journalists, and international observers to review systemic corruption across successive governments through whistleblower testimony, case analysis, and strategic dialogue.
