President Muizzu ratified amendments brought to the Drug Act to introduce the death penalty for drug trafficking. Capital punishment will apply to cases involving more than 350 grams of cannabis, over 250 grams of diamorphine, or more than 100 grams of any Schedule 1 drug. The sentence would be carried out only after the Supreme Court upholds a guilty verdict.
Police recovered 78 drug pellets weighing 818 grams from the intestines of a 40-year-old Nepalese man who had been found dead at a Hulhumalé guesthouse on 28 November. The man arrived in the Maldives two days earlier with two companions, both of whom left the country after he checked into the guesthouse. A surgical procedure was conducted on December 2 following legal guidance from the Prosecutor General's Office, police told the media. An investigation is ongoing to identify additional suspects.
In an operation conducted on Friday, police searched two homes and two vessels in Malé, seized 148 vapes and cartridges and took down a Facebook page used to sell the banned devices.
The Elections Commission announced four political parties eligible for state funding with a membership exceeding 10,000 when parliament approved the 2026 budget: the ruling People's National Congress (68,665 members), opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (43,765 members), the Jumhooree Party (13,456 members), and Maldives Development Alliance (10,000 members at the time). The Adhaalath Party, which received funding this year, was deemed ineligible after its membership fell to 8,844. Under the Political Parties Act, 0.1 percent of the state budget is distributed to parties annually.
The economic ministry shut down 11 businesses operated illegally by expatriates. Following a public appeal, the ministry received 125 reports and inspected 35 establishments including cafés, retail outlets, garages and a guesthouse, with closures issued for violations including operating without permits and illegal tobacco sales.
The civil court ordered football legend Ali Ashfaq to pay MVR 400,000 (US$ 25,900) owed from an MVR 1.4 million outstanding debt within six months. The judgment came in a 2015 case filed by Yumet Construction over unpaid fees for building two floors under an agreement with Ashfaq and VB Sports Club. Ashfaq has already paid MVR 1 million of the total amount.
President Muizzu ratified legal changes to scrap the MVR 175,000 monthly allowance for former presidents to run offices while introducing an MVR 30,000 monthly allowance for vice presidents who complete a five-year term. The amendments passed by parliament on Monday also bar former presidents from receiving allowances while holding public office. Former vice president Faisal Naseem is currently the only person eligible for the new vice presidential allowance.
Sri Lankans living in the Maldives held a rally on Friday to express gratitude for cyclone relief fundraising efforts. The Maldives provided the largest share of international aid following Cyclone Ditwah, donating US$ 2.4 million to Sri Lanka, including a government contribution of US$ 50,000 and US$ 800,000 raised through a telethon, Sri Lankan media reported.
President Muizzu ratified the Maldives' first-ever zakat law, which will come into effect on January 1, 2025. The law establishes a legal framework for collecting and managing zakat. The Islamic minister is responsible for policy implementation and a Zakat Council is to be established within two months. Fines ranging from MVR 1,000 to MVR 100,000 will be imposed for misuse of zakat funds. All residents with property in the Maldives must pay zakat regardless of where their assets are located.
The Maldives Bar Council released the results of the bar examination held on October 11, with 47 percent of the 136 candidates passing the required threshold to enter the legal profession.
