Man accused of threatening president remanded in custody for 10 days

Criminal Court, on Friday, has remanded Maseeh Moosa, Malas, Th. Thimarafushi, who was arrested last night on suspicion of issuing death threats against President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, in custody for 10 days.

The 25-year-old is suspected of issuing death threats against President Muizzu in a post shared on social media following the President’s instructions to initiate discussions on death penalty for drug traffickers.

Maseeh was arrested under a court order on Thursday night. His phone was also seized.

In a recent social media post regarding the death penalty for drug-related offenses, President Muizzu emphasized that one of his administration’s key priorities is to protect society from the harmful effects of drugs and to build a drug-free generation. He noted that relevant government agencies have been instructed to review the Narcotics Act Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, with a view to possibly introducing stricter penalties—including the death penalty—for individuals convicted of drug importation or trafficking, in line with practices adopted by some other countries.

Drug abuse remains a major societal issue in the Maldives, and the government has introduced several initiatives to combat the problem. These include plans to establish dedicated remand centers and strengthen the national drug treatment system.

The President’s remarks come in the wake of a previous incident in which a death threat was made against him via social media.