A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
A man has been fined almost $10,000 for caging endangered green turtle hatchlings. Mohamed Musthafa from the island of Maakurathu in Raa atoll was fined MVR149,000 ($9,600), the first penalty of its kind imposed for caging the creatures. Five out of the seven species of sea turtle are found in the Maldives. Green turtles are […]
There are staggeringly low conviction rates for corruption-related crimes in the Maldives, a new reported has revealed. The report, from NGO Transparency Maldives, said only one corruption-related case reached conviction between 2010 and 2014 despite 175 cases being submitted for prosecution by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The single conviction refers to the sentencing of Kaashidhoo MP […]
The gender ministry’s monthly statistics of reported cases have shown a drop from 260 cases in July to 246 in August, despite a rise in cases of child sexual abuse. According to the ministry, 131 out of the 246 cases in August were connected to different forms of child abuse. Child abuse cases have continued […]
A 23-year-old has been arrested for “physically taking part” in the murder of a man in Hulhumalé, police said Sunday, but they refused to comment on whether they were looking for anyone else who might have been involved. Haris Abdul Gafoor from the island of Dhaandhoo in Gaaf Alif atoll was pronounced dead at the […]
The council president of Dhidhoo island in northern Haa Alif atoll has been suspended in connection to a pending investigation related to newly built housing units on the island. Ali Hashim’s indefinite suspension came on Thursday with the Local Government Authority alleging the councillor, from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, tried to prepare a […]
The administrative arm of the Maldives judiciary has lifted the suspension of 16 lawyers who signed a petition calling for judicial reform. The Department of Judicial Administration – which functions under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court – announced Saturday that the suspension was lifted after the investigation of their cases was completed. According to local media, the […]
Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the sudden and unexplained deaths of a 22-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman in Hulhumalé. Ahmed Haameen, from the island of Thimarafushi in Thaa atoll, and Fathmath Sama, from the capital Malé, were pronounced dead on arrival at the Hulhumalé hospital around 8:30 pm on Thursday night, […]
A 25-year-old man was stabbed to death Friday night near the halfway house for recovering addicts in Hulhumalé. Local media has identified the victim as Haris Abdul Ghafoor from the island of Dhaandhoo in Gaaf Alif atoll. According to the Hulhumalé hospital, he was stabbed eight times and was pronounced dead upon arrival. Raajje TV […]
Flogging. Pre-marital sex. Suicide. Maverick film-maker Abdul Faththaah’s latest flick touches on taboo subjects in the Maldives. Hahdhu (Limits), written by Mahdi Ahmed, has been watched by more than 10,000 people since its release earlier this month, garnering a 4.6 rating out of 5 on its Facebook page. One of the most talked-about scenes is […]