Maldivian court on Monday extended the judicial remand of former state minister Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem and her sister Hawwa Sana Saleem for a week over charges of allegedly performing black magic on President Mohamed Muizzu.
An intelligence report last week revealed the deed leading to the arrest of Shamnaz, who was a state minister at the Environment Ministry, and her sister Sana and the alleged sorcerer.
The extension of custody comes after the initial seven-day remand period ended. The remand hearing of the two sisters was held at the Criminal Court.
According to the police, the alleged sorcerer was released from custody.
Following the arrest, Shamnaz was suspended from her post. Her ex-husband Adam Rameez, who was serving as a minister at the President's Office, was also suspended in the case. Reportedly, he had fled the country.
However, the government has not yet made an official comment about the case.
Reportedly, the police had seized their phones, a sealed mobile phone, and a key tag distributed during an Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) tournament among other things.
The key tag confiscated by the police was a woollen plush doll, the report said.
An investigation is underway and the police are on the lookout for any items in connection with the case. A list of items needed for the investigation included mobile phones, pen drives, external hard disks, computer systems, laptops, any device that can store digital data, books related to the case and any item used for sorcery or black magic.
Shamnaz and Sana were arrested for allegedly paying the sorcerer on several occasions to practice "sorcery and black magic to split up a couple and to win over love and establish close relations with persons", the report said.
