Politics

Majlis resumes with soldiers surrounding speaker

The People’s Majlis resumed after a three-week hiatus Tuesday morning with soldiers surrounding embattled Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed as opposition lawmakers called for his resignation.

‘This guy is gonna dump US$16bn’: MP Nihan’s leaked audio

A full translation of a leaked audio clip of Majority Leader Ahmed Nihan saying that the constitution was amended to facilitate the sale of Himithi in Faafu atoll to then-Deputy Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman Al Saud.

Yameen on Adeeb and corruption allegations in rare press conference

President Abdulla Yameen took questions from reporters for the first time since October 2015 at an extraordinary press conference in mid-July. He addressed long-standing allegations of corruption and spoke at length on the ruling party split and loss of the pro-government majority in parliament.

Assistant governor resigns after president withdraws nomination

Neeza Imad, the assistant governor of the Maldives central bank, resigned Sunday after President Abdulla Yameen withdrew her nomination to replace the outgoing governor.

Teachers threatened with dismissal for joining protest

The education ministry has threatened to sack four teachers from the southern islands of Thinadhoo and Villigili alleged to have taken part in anti-government protest marches over the jailing of opposition lawmakers.

Court rejects plea to suspend MP Faris’s identity fraud trial

At a preliminary hearing Sunday morning, Judge Ibrahim Ali announced that the trial will commence on October 8 after a mandatory 30-day period required by the new criminal procedures law.

MPs Ameeth and Saud released with conditions

The criminal court imposed a curfew of 9 pm on the pair and prohibited them from meeting any witnesses. Their release was conditional upon appearing at court when summoned.

MDP fined MVR60k for alleged call to gather outside police headquarters

A tweet urging supporters to come to the police station in solidarity with an elderly female activist summoned for questioning “violates section seven and 48 of the Political Parties Act as well as the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act,” the electoral body informed the MDP.

Opposition wins Kamadhoo by-election

Backed by the four-party opposition coalition, the Maldivian Democratic Party’s candidate for a vacant seat on the Baa atoll Kamadhoo island council won Saturday’s by-election against the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives candidate.

Opposition warns of undoing ‘corrupt’ land sales

The housing ministry is planning to auction 19 plots of land in Malé ranging from 4,000 to 7,7000 square feet with bidding to start at MVR15,000 (US$973) per square foot.

MDP vice president accused of defaming Elections Commission

Shifaz, a former lawmaker, was summoned for questioning Tuesday night for alleging during the 2017 local council elections campaign that the independent electoral body was subject to undue influence from President Abdulla Yameen.

Court releases MP Waheed and JP secretary-general

MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim has been released by the criminal court after 23 days in police custody on the condition that the lawmaker shares his phone number and refrains from committing any crimes.

Judge decides to proceed with MP Ibrahim Didi’s terrorism trial

The judge overruled objections from the defence lawyer who contended that the lawmaker could not be prosecuted for the second time on the same charge as the Prosecutor General’s office had withdrawn the case two years ago.

‘The cash that entered my house was not halal’: Yameen

The opposition has seized upon President Abdulla Yameen’s apparent admission that he benefited from a historic corruption scandal pinned on his jailed former right-hand man.

Dozen opposition MPs face charges for entering parliament building

The police are seeking charges against 12 opposition MPs alleged to have scaled security barricades to enter the People’s Majlis building on July 24.

PPM rallies support for government

The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives staged rallies across the country Saturday in a show of support for the administration of embattled President Abdulla Yameen.

Yameen wins Asia HRD lifetime achievement award

Supreme Court hears appeals from disqualified lawmakers

The Supreme Court has begun hearing appeals from four former ruling party lawmakers contentiously deemed to have been stripped of their seats by the Elections Commission.

Maldives ready for executions in September, president declares

The Maldives will be ready to carry out the first executions in more than 60 years next month, President Abdulla Yameen declared Sunday amid growing international concern over the reintroduction of the death penalty.

Gasim’s bribery trial on hold after hospitalisation

The court threatened to proceed with the trial in absentia but the hearing was cancelled after neither Gasim nor his legal counsel showed up.