President Muizzu dismissed two Customs deputy commissioners – later identified by the media as Abdulla Waheed and Mahmood Riyaz – and ordered action against three other customs officials following a parliamentary inquiry into illegal cigarette smuggling. The decisions were based on a "secret chapter" of a report that was shared with the president, Deputy Speaker Nazim revealed, referring to findings by the security services committee into the smuggling of about 200 cigarette cartons on an oil tanker belonging to local fuel supplier Hawks, and the unauthorised clearance of hundreds of cases of cigarettes from a bonded warehouse.
The information ministry published a list of 18 privately-owned media outlets eligible for direct state funding for the first time under a new media grant policy. The top earner was Sangu TV – a broadcaster founded by Information Minister Ibrahim Waheed 'Asward' – and its news website with a total of MVR 5.1 million (US$ 330,700) followed by the Sun Media Group's SSTV (MVR 2.9 million) and Sun Online (MVR 1.3 million), and VTV (MVR 3 million) and Vnews (MVR 1.1 million). The other outlets were One Online, Voice, The Press, Dhauru, Mihaaru, The Edition, Adhadhu, Theeru, Dhiyares, Gaafu Online, Maaldif and Thiladhun, all of which would receive between MVR 899,000 and MVR 1.3 million. Annual lump sum payments are to be disbursed from MVR 29.7 million allocated in the 2025 budget (0.1 percent of the budget).
Several police officers from the Shaviyani Milandhoo police station were suspended over the theft of police funds. Following an inquiry by the Professional Standards Command into deposits to their personal bank accounts, the Disciplinary Board recommended their dismissal and the officers were suspended for the appeal stage. Other officers investigated in the case were demoted, police said. According to media reports, the case involved three officers and a civil staff who conspired with a caterer to embezzle payments.
A parliament sub-committee received the names of 13 Fenaka Corporation officials from project and procurement departments implicated in corruption cases between 2021 and 2023. The committee launched an inquiry after an audit uncovered MVR 8.8 billion in spending irregularities, including 439 contracts worth MVR 1.37 billion awarded without open bidding. The committee is looking into alleged misappropriation of funds from several projects.
The Bank of Maldives posted an operating profit of MVR 791 million for the third quarter, up 10 percent from the same period last year, with a net profit of MVR 475 million. During Q3-2025, the national bank disbursed MVR 6.5 billion in new loans with total assets reaching MVR 51.5 billion. At a ceremony attended by the president, BML unveiled a new digital multi-currency wallet called Swipe, rebranded the SME Development Finance Corporation following its recent acquisition of a majority stake, and marked the completion of installing self-service ATMs on 105 islands.
The opposition MDP condemned changes made to the public finance rules to allow single-source procurement without competitive bidding for projects designated by the cabinet, alleging corruption and pledging to review such contracts and pursue legal action if the party returns to power.
The Maldives Journalists Association raised concern over amendments proposed to the Evidence Act to allow courts to compel journalists to reveal sources in cases involving unlawful disclosure of information, violent overthrow of the government, military aggression, and acts that endanger sovereignty. The changes threaten constitutional rights to free expression and protection of sources, "creating a climate of fear," the association warned.
Islamic Minister Dr Shaheem's son, Abdulla Maahil Shaheem, was listed among 680 individuals and companies with unpaid fines for the illegal import of tobacco or vapes. The minister's son – who resigned from President Muizzu's Youth Advisory Board after he was detained at the airport in August with over 100 vape sticks – owes MVR 1.23 million (US$79,766).
PNC MP Husnee Mubarik was appointed to the Judicial Service Commission and elected as the new chair of the 10-member watchdog. Holhudhoo MP Abdul Sattar replaced him as chair of parliament's judiciary committee. The changes came after Maafushi MP Hussain Riza Adam resigned from both the JSC presidency and his committee assignments.
Parliament unanimously approved the appointment of former agriculture minister Dr Aishath Rameela to the Human Rights Commission. The position became vacant after commission member Mariyam Muna's five-year term expired. Dr Rameela resigned from her ministerial role in December citing health reasons.
