Woman arrested from Omadhoo for violating travel ban

A woman has been arrested after traveling to the island of A. Dh. Omadhoo from the capital Male’ City without obtaining the necessary documents and authorizations.

Authorities have imposed a nation-wide travel ban that restricts citizens from traveling unless for an essential purpose and by obtaining prior permits. Those who wish to return to their islands are required to complete a 14-day quarantine. The measures are due to the COVID-19 situation.

A 24-year old woman was arrested for violating the travel restriction orders, said Police.

Sources have said that the woman traveled to the island on a fishing boat from the island on Friday. The woman is the wife of a crew member on the boat and is originally from the G. A. Atoll. She had been living in the capital Male’ before the lockdown order.

Omadhoo Task Force informed Sun that the task force collected the information of the boat once it arrived on the island on Friday morning. The Task Force was not aware of anyone else traveling from the boat other than the crew members. 

“When speculation that someone from Male’ had traveled on the boat, we went to investigate and found out that she was at home. We discussed the matter decided to report it to Police and HPA.” Said a member of the Task Force.

Those that arrived from the boat were requested to refrain from going outdoors and were informed by written and verbal notice, said the Task Force member. 

The woman had listed to be allowed to travel to the island under the government's arrangements. 

Arrests have been made in Omadhoo for similar travel ban violations.