Parliament passed a bill extending GST to foreign tour operators, overseas travel agents and offshore booking platforms. It is expected to raise MVR 1.6 billion annually from October. A second bill was passed, doubling withholding tax on non-resident contractors from 5 to 10 percent. This is projected to generate an additional MVR 251 million per year.
President Muizzu nominated State Minister Abdulaziz Jamal Abubakar, the first-ever Information Commissioner under President Yameen, to replace current commissioner Ahmed Ahid Rasheed, whose five-year term expires next month. Parliament's independent institutions committee opened a public objection window the same day but gave just six hours for submissions.
An MTDC board member representing public shareholders, Asaamy Rushdhee, resigned, citing management's failure to act on board decisions regarding the Ayada resort lease, and its push for a rights issue that would dilute shareholders' stakes. His resignation comes amid separate controversy over MTDC's plan to sell the Magoodhoo head lease to a Turkish company for USD 1.5 million.
The PG's office explained it had withdrawn charges against Adam Adlan Lathif, 22, for selling child sexual abuse material because police could not find sufficient evidence to prove he sold or distributed such material. Nor could investigators confirm the explicit material found on devices linked to him was child sexual abuse material.
Former Attorney General Azima Shakoor was appointed principal secretary to the president for national territory and sovereignty. Two charges filed against her in 2019, providing false information to a state institution and facilitating money laundering in connection with the MMPRC scandal, were withdrawn by the state last November.
MMA penalised two resorts, Rahaa Resort in Laamu atoll, linked to former parliament deputy speaker Reeko Moosa Manik, and the now-closed South Palm Resort in Addu, for failing to convert any dollars as required under the Foreign Currency Act. A compliance report released showed 78 percent of resorts are meeting their obligations, while 20 percent have not fully complied and another 20 percent have sought exemptions.