The Sun Construction and Sun Investments companies of MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed were acquitted on September 17 of bribery and money laundering charges related to the lease of Raa Fuggiri, criminal court officials confirmed. The court neither scheduled a sentencing hearing nor published the judgment. A court official denied holding a closed-door hearing and blamed the omission from the schedule on an administrative error. The two companies – owned by the Sun resorts magnate and leader of the Maldives Development Alliance – were previously co-defendants alongside former president Yameen before the court decided to conduct separate trials.
Siyam gave a large loan to Muizzu's campaign ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Adhadhu reported.
Citing intelligence information, police alleged plans to mobilise criminal gangs and incite unrest in Malé during the MDP's protest march on Friday, warning against any deviation from the approved route through the capital's main thoroughfares. Police warned that "decisive action" will be taken against any acts of vandalism or disruption of public order. Photos of officers in riot gear were posted later in the day from "operational readiness" drills conducted in Malé and Hulhumalé. The MDP responded to the police statement by accusing the government of using “gross misinformation tactics” and planning to deploy criminal groups to derail the protest.
China has "signed all debt relief agreements" on delaying or deferring payments owed by the Maldives, President Muizzu declared at a well-attended ruling party rally in Malé, referring to remarks made by the Chinese ambassador at a function on Tuesday night. In his speech at Wednesday night's PNC rally – the first in several weeks – Muizzu also announced the launch of a project to build 3,000 housing units in Malé. "We will go ahead with fulfilling the pledges we made to the people, while repaying foreign debt and public domestic debt as well, and God willing without printing money," he said.
The annual inflation rate stood at 4.14 percent in August, accelerating from 3.97 percent in July. Food prices were up nearly five percent from August 2024. The largest monthly price hikes were recorded for fruits (3.91 percent), fish (3.24 percent) and vegetables (2.19 percent).
The Bank of Maldives reduced the equity requirement for home purchase financing loans to five percent, representing "a substantial reduction from the previous tiered structure starting at 20 percent equity for home loans and financing."
Citing legal advice from the Attorney General’s office, the Malé City Council revoked parking slots previously leased for private vehicles, opening them up for public use. The council also launched a digital land information system of Malé, created using the Geographic Information System overlaid with the city’s land use plan details and all land plots to scale.
President Muizzu inaugurated the Maldives National Service at the MNDF Composite Training Centre in Lhaviyani Maafilaafushi. Some 343 young people selected for the programme departed for three months of basic training last month.
As parliament returns from recess for the final session of the year, the agenda for Thursday's sitting includes a resolution calling for swift action against those implicated in a special audit of the Fenaka Corporation, which exposed suspected misappropriation of funds from the state utility during the previous administration. The resolution was proposed by Mohamed Shameez, the ruling party MP for Madaveli.
President Muizzu repealed the designation of Addu City's Hankede as a tourism real estate development project zone under the previous administration. The area was placed back under the tourism ministry for "dedicated development as a tourism destination."
