Maldives Police Service (MPS) has fined three political parties for breaching the guidelines set by Health Protection Agency (HPA).
MPS revealed the main ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and the two main parties in the opposition, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) were fined for breaching the COVID-19 restrictions set under HPA guidelines. As such, MDP was fined USD 325 for conducting a mass gathering in Hulhumale’ as part of the campaign for the upcoming local council elections. Meanwhile, PPM and PNC were both fined USD 1,600 for continuously conducting protests and mass gatherings in the Greater Male’ Region in violation of HPA’s guidelines.
Multiple restrictions have been imposed in the Male’ area due to the latest surge of COVID-19 cases in the region. As such, HPA has imposed a curfew running from 1800hrs until 0600hrs every day. HPA has also banned gatherings of more than 5 people in the Male’ region.