The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has stopped providing security for the Drug Court as of January 20, according to local media.
The court said police had abruptly terminated providing security services without giving a reason for doing so.
Police Media Official Hassan Haneef told local media that police had not stopped providing security for the court, but had rather changed how that security was provided.
“Previously security was provided by placing police officers at the court and now the security is provided by the officers who patrol the city,” Haneef told Sun Online.
The court has taken the issue to Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain, stating that the current situation is “worrying”.
The Drug Court has repeatedly requested security from police last year before it was eventually provided, reports Sun Online.
State security forces are mandated to provide court security, as stated in Article 95 of the Courts Act.