Dhaalu tour, Holhudhoo town hall and solicitation charge

President Muizzu wrapped up a three-day tour of all inhabited islands in Dhaalu Atoll, during which he opened ATMs, made commitments to undertake land reclamation and mosque construction, broke ground on a new council office building, and oversaw the signing of a waste management center agreement.

Following consecutive days of protests in Noonu Holhudhoo over alleged police negligence in investigating the death of 50-year-old Zakiyya Moosa, Home Minister Ali Ihusan, Police Commissioner Ali Shujau, and senior police officers conducted a town hall meeting with the island community, listening to impassioned pleas for a more thorough investigation into widely-held suspicions of murder. Participants spoke about the psychological impact of having an at-large killer and expressed frustration over the lack of responsiveness to their concerns. The police chief assured action after ongoing watchdog inquiries to address allegations of destroying evidence and cleaning out of the crime scene before the forensic team had arrived from Malé.

The Prosecutor General’s office decided not to pursue solicitation charges against the husband of Supreme Court Justice Azmirelda Zahir following his arrest in December during a raid of a spa suspected of operating as a brothel. Last week, Dr Ismail Latheef, an anaesthesiologist at IGMH, denied allegations about Justice Azmirelda exerting influence over the criminal court to secure his release from police custody.    

A February 23 deadline for food outlets to register and obtain licenses was extended. Interim rules will remain in place until stringent new regulations for registration and licensing could take effect.

The Anti-Corruption Commission launched a "model" Asset Recovery Act designed to establish a comprehensive system for retrieving assets and funds stolen from public coffers through criminal activities.

An employee at the Velana International Airport who experienced a medical emergency at work last Wednesday passed away while receiving treatment.

Local telco Dhiraagu approved a dividend payout of MVR 8.7 per share after posting a profit of MVR 946 million (US$ 61 million) for 2024.