Gang law, Broadcom sacking and extortion charges

President Muizzu ratified the new Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act, granting police expanded powers to carry out raids and arrest suspects without a court order. Muizzu blamed a “lack of political will” to solve the problem of organised crime and declared a zero tolerance policy towards any officials with ties to gangs. 

Broadcasting Commission Secretary General Mariyam Zeeniya was removed from her role as the media regulator’s most senior civil servant, just days after staff staged a walkout accusing commission members of obstructing their duties and ignoring established rules.

The Prosecutor General’s Office filed charges of money laundering, abuse of authority, and extortion against former immigration controller Mohamed Shamaan. Three immigration officers and a relative of one of the officers were also charged with aiding and abetting.

Over 876 individuals attended walk-in interviews for 50 immigration officer positions on Saturday, the Immigration Department revealed, announcing plans to recruit a total of 200 new officers this year in preparation for the opening of the the Velana International Airport's new terminal in July.

Adhadhu news journalist Ahmed Aaidh was refused entry to a President's Office press event for not wearing a tie as ostensibly required by a new dress code.

Zaidhan Ahmed Hashim, a serial scammer, was arrested for using fake bank transfer receipts to place takeout orders through the "Foodies" app.

The family court officiated 59 weddings in Greater Malé on the palindrome date 25/5/25. It was the highest daily number so far this year.

President Muizzu opened the new Maldivian Blood Services and Thalassaemia and Other Haemoglobinopathies Centre at the newly developed Orange Hiyaa building.

The Maldives Journalists Association decided to file complaints with the police oversight body against two officers suspected of using excessive force in detaining One Online journalist Hamdhan Ahmed.

Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel departed on an official two-day visit to India to lead the Second Meeting of the High-Level Core Group between the Maldives and India.

President Muizzu announced that 658 young people, including 316 minors, had applied to join the national service programme, which recruits juvenile offenders and students facing academic difficulties into the military.

The civil court ruled that SOF, a local company involved in funnelling over US$ 90 million from the MMPRC, has no assets or income available to recover the MVR 165 million (US$ 10 million ) owed to the government's tourism promotion company. SOF failed to make the payments as ordered in 2017, but no further enforcement action could be taken at this time, the court ruled.  

A 45-year-old Bangladeshi man was arrested for smuggling cigarettes after police found 32 cartons of the Manchester brand on a vessel at the Thilafushi boatyard.