Police have filed the case of a Maldivian national accused of photographing President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu inside a shopping mall in Singapore in August 2024 due to a lack of evidence.
Police said the case was filed because there was not enough evidence to proceed. They added that the case will be re-examined once more information is available.
The accused man was surrounded by six policemen when he got off a plane from Singapore at the Velana International Airport (VIA) and his phone was confiscated with a court order. Police released the man after questioning him.
Police sought an order to seize his phone from the Criminal Court. The court issued the order under Sections 231, 233 and 615(4) of the Penal Code. The offences included in the sections are:
1. Section 231 - Unlawful Eavesdropping or Surveillance
2. Section 233. Unlawful Disclosure of Information
3. Section 615(4) - Persistently follows a person in or about a public place or places
The photo involved in the case is believed to have been posted by the anonymous "Hassan Kurusee" account on social media.
The photo shows President Muizzu and his family walking inside the mall of Paragon Medical Centre with the official security detail. The President visited Singapore on an unofficial trip for a medical check-up.
