President Yameen

Campaign workers for President Yameen appointed to broadcasting regulator

The ruling party-dominated parliament has approved six of President Abdulla Yameen’s nominees to the Maldives Broadcasting Commission, including the regulator’s incumbent president and two campaign workers. A group of journalists staged a silent protest outside the People’s Majlis while voting on the nominees took place around 1:30pm.

Minister dispatched to Pakistan as Yameen’s special envoy

Azima Shukoor’s visit comes amidst a lobbying effort by the government to avoid action by the Commonwealth over widely condemned human rights abuses, including the imprisonment of former President Mohamed Nasheed and other opposition leaders.

Maldives seeks ally in Malaysia to avoid ‘unfair punishment’ from Commonwealth

The Malaysian government is also considering selling refined oil products to the Maldives from the state-owned Petronas company and extending on-arrival visas for Maldivians to 90 days. President Yameen and First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim concluded their maiden official visit to Malaysia today.

President Yameen departs on official visit to Malaysia

President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim departed this afternoon on an official visit to Malaysia in the first couple’s first official overseas trip since the September 28 blast on the presidential speedboat.

President nominates campaign staff as broadcast regulators

The president’s spokesperson said the names of all 23 individuals who applied to the president’s office will be forwarded for parliamentary approval today to fill six upcoming vacancies on the Maldives Broadcasting Commission. However, he explained, the names were ranked in order of preference.

Fugitive admits to paying Omnia Stategy on behalf of Maldives government

“Let’s say Al Capone were to come along and tell you to do something, well you would just do it. In the Maldives, the president and Vice President are like Al Capone, so I did what they said,” says Mohamed Allam Latheef, owner of a company implicated in the Maldives biggest corruption scandal.

First couple departs to Singapore on unofficial trip

President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim departed for Singapore on an unofficial visit last night in the first couple’s first overseas trip since the September 28 blast on the presidential speedboat.

Yameen defends death penalty

Yameen concedes need for judicial reform, appeals for MDP to join talks

President Abdulla Yameen conceded Wednesday the need for reforming the Maldivian judiciary and renewed appeals for the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party to engage in dialogue with the government to resolve a year-long political crisis.

Ex MP denies bribing president, judges to avoid jail sentence

Former MP Abdulla Jabir has denied paying MVR10 million (US$648,500) to President Abdulla Yameen to influence the outcome of his trial in early 2014 after the opposition-aligned station Raajje TV aired a phone conversation between the resort businessmen and former Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb.

Saudi Arabia pledges US$50m for military housing project

Saudi Arabia pledged to provide US$50 million for a military housing project during an official visit to the kingdom this week by Defence Minister Adam Shareef Umar.

First couple moves to official residence as president backtracks on campaign pledge

President Abdulla Yameen has done a u-turn on his much-publicised campaign pledge of living in his family home with an unexpected move on Thursday to Hilaaleege, the state residence formerly used by his first Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.

President asks bank to disclose account details to anti-corruption watchdog

The Maldives Islamic Bank had refused to share information about Yameen’s private bank account with the Anti-Corruption Commission for its investigation into the embezzlement of nearly US$80 million from the state-owned tourism promotion company.

President blames Nasheed for Maldives losing correspondent bank

President Abdulla Yameen has blamed former President Mohamed Nasheed’s claims of Maldivians joining extremist groups in Syria for an international bank dropping the Maldives from its client list.

MPs summoned to police after dumping fake dollars outside president’s residence

Opposition MPs Ahmed Mahloof and Eva Abdulla were summoned for questioning by the police on Friday after the pair dumped fake dollar bills with President Abdulla Yameen’s face outside his private residence on Wednesday morning.

Maldives bans Raajje TV documentary on ‘president’s sorcerer’

The Maldives’ broadcasting regulator has ordered the opposition-aligned Raajje TV not to air a documentary about a Sri Lankan man who allegedly performed sorcery or black magic to help President Abdulla Yameen win the 2013 election.

Government decides to relaunch political party talks

The move follow warnings from a visiting delegation from the European parliament that the EU will consider imposing sanctions against top Maldivian officials if the government does not release “political prisoners” and convene “genuine inter-party talks” with an international mediator if required.

MDP chairperson challenges Yameen to dispute evidence of corruption

Citing the transaction number, the bank account number, the name of the employee who oversaw the transaction, and the name and mobile phone number of the bank’s manager, Ali Waheed challenged Yameen to refute the allegation that US$500,000 was deposited to his account at the Maldives Islamic Bank on October 12.

European MPs warn of sanctions over jailed Maldives opposition leaders

A visiting delegation from the European parliament urged the government to free political prisoners and engage in genuine dialogue with political parties. “There is no chance that elections that are due to place here in 2018 will be rated as free and fair by Europe or the international community unless these steps start and start now,” said Richard Howitt, MEP.

Maldives ex-Prosecutor General detained over alleged coup plot

The state’s evidence suggests that Muhthaz Muhsin and accomplices traveled to Alif Dhaal Maamigili around 12:45am on February 7 “to seek a court order to arrest President Abdulla Yameen and topple the government,” the High Court said, ordering the ex-PG to be held in police custody for 15 days.