President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has instructed Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath to amend the existing laws to strengthen the security and protection provided to the speaker of parliament and the chief justice, including the designation of their official residences.
President Solih tasked the attorney general to make necessary amendments to the laws to strengthen the security and protection of the speaker and the chief justice and briefed the cabinet on this matter during an online cabinet session. Currently, the state only provides official residences for the president and vice-president, while the speaker and chief justice reside in their own homes.
The decision comes after Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed was severely injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was triggered near his residence on May 6. Maldives Police Service (MPS) has arrested three suspects over the plot, including the individual that allegedly detonated the IED, and the owner of the motorcycle to which the IED was attached.
The security services stated they had filed a request before the attack, to ban parking in the alley leading to the speaker's residence, since his official car is unable to enter the alley. Male' City Council has begun work to ban parking near the speaker's residence and establish a special parking area nearby.