The bodies of four Italian divers missing since Thursday were located deep inside the Vaavu atoll cave on Monday by a Finnish technical-diving team coordinated by DAN Europe, the Maldives National Defence Force said. Recoveries are expected over the next two days. The three-hour dive, beginning around midday, found Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, Muriel Oddenino and Federico Gualtieri together in the deepest chamber of the cave system. The cave entrance lies between 55 and 60 metres, with the system extending hundreds of metres through multiple chambers, according to DAN Europe. Finnish divers Sami Paakkarinen, Patrik Grönqvist and Jenni Westerlund used closed-circuit rebreathers, high-performance diver propulsion vehicles and fully redundant life-support to complete what DAN called an "extended penetration dive in a deep cave environment." After locating the bodies, one of the divers wrote "WE FOUND ALL FOUR" in a logbook ferried to the surface. "Today's result is the outcome of extraordinary preparation, technical excellence and exceptional teamwork," DAN Europe CEO Laura Marroni said. Government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef told Reuters that two bodies are expected to be recovered on Tuesday and two on Wednesday. The four bodies were located three days after Sergeant First Class Mohamed Mahudhee died during Saturday's MNDF recovery attempt.
A 53-year-old Spanish tourist drowned after entering the water to surf from a safari vessel near Gaaf Dhaal Vaadhoo, and was pronounced dead on arrival at the island's health centre.
President Muizzu's annual asset declaration shows MVR 1.8 million (US$ 116,731) held across three bank accounts, with total income of MVR 420,000 over the past six months. The declaration, submitted annually to the Auditor General, lists his salary of MVR 285,024, rental income of MVR 240,000 from a Hulhumalé row house, and MVR 180,000 received as a family gift from his property Maafannu Fig. His assets include Maafannu Dimyaath in Malé, inherited from family; an MVR 150,000 plot of land in Haa Alif Vashafaru; an Amba Terrace 2 row house in Hulhumalé valued at MVR 5.9 million; an inherited share of M. Fig; and a car worth MVR 260,000. The bank balances comprise MVR 184,846 in a BML current account, MVR 1.7 million in a BML savings account, and MVR 1,000 in an MIB savings account. The president has an outstanding loan balance of MVR 1.3 million with the Maldives Finance and Leasing Company. First Lady Sajidha Mohamed received MVR 282,926 over the past six months: MVR 200,000 as First Lady allowance, MVR 78,000 in salary from Dimyaath company, and MVR 4,927 as a health ministry consultant. Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef's declaration showed income of MVR 314,664 over six months, no assets, and BML and MIB account balances of MVR 8,390 plus 61 US dollars and MVR 39 plus 397 US dollars respectively.
President Muizzu cancelled his weekly Monday press conference without providing a reason, despite having asked journalists to register by midnight the previous night. The weekly briefings, which run from 10am to 11am, were announced in the presidential address to parliament in February and have been held since March. The President's Office had previously stated the briefings would only be skipped due to travel, public holidays, or unavoidable schedule changes.
A speedboat carrying participants from the second batch of Maldives National Service trainees broke down off Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort on Monday evening, with passengers entering the water in life jackets. Police said the incident was reported at around 6pm and that some of those rescued have been brought to Malé. MNDF said the vessel – carrying trainees from the National Service Initial Training Course returning from Maafilaafushi – failed near Hulhumalé and the trainees were brought out of the water. Coast Guard divers were working to bring them ashore in Malé.
Yazmeed Mohamed, the president's appointee on the Judicial Service Commission and the commission's deputy chair, resigned, multiple media outlets reported, with no reason given. Yazmeed was appointed to the JSC in February last year after Muizzu dismissed Mohamed Sameer, an experienced lawyer who had previously worked at the Prosecutor General's and Attorney General's offices. Yazmeed became deputy chair in October following the resignation of High Court Justice Mohamed Niyaz, one of the court's longest-serving judges. Yazmeed is a former PPM-PNC parliamentary candidate and previously served on the Anti-Corruption Commission under President Yameen. He has no judicial experience.
Alif Dhaal Mahibadhoo Council's operations were brought to a halt after six rounds of voting failed to elect a vice president. Each attempt ended in a tie. MDP's Zaima Mohamed and PNC's Mohamed Maumoon each received two votes in every round, while one spoiled ballot prevented a majority. Since the law requires a vice president to be elected at the first sitting, the council cannot proceed with its work until the deadlock is broken.
The Prosecutor General's office confirmed to Dhauru it has not yet decided whether to charge Aishath Easha Ashraf in connection with the Adhadhu documentary making allegations against President Muizzu, with her investigation still ongoing. Easha was questioned by police twice earlier this month, while Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and managing editor Hassan Mohamed have already been charged with qazf and their trial has begun at the Criminal Court. Easha's lawyers said she was denied the opportunity to speak in her own defence during questioning and considers herself a victim in the case rather than a suspect.
Six representatives appointed by former presidents Nasheed, Yameen, and Solih held their first joint meeting at Manhattan Hotel, expressing strong optimism about working together to redirect the country's course under their united opposition movement against President Muizzu's government. Former MDP chairman Fayyaz Ismail said the group discussed next steps and plans to establish a regular media briefing system. A press conference is expected later this week.
Former Supreme Court Justice Husnu Suood declared that the government's decision to establish LGA offices in every atoll to administer administrative divisions is unconstitutional. The move follows amendments to the Decentralisation Act under which atoll councils were dissolved when newly elected councillors were sworn in with atoll administration transferred to the LGA. President Muizzu has since directed the establishment of LGA offices in each atoll.
Customs seized 2.3 million cigarette sticks being smuggled into the country by sea during a special operation last Wednesday and Thursday, acting on a tip-off. The haul carries an estimated duty of MVR 18.7 million (US$ 1.21 million) and a fine of MVR 2.05 million.
