State minister Shamnaz’s remand extended by a week in sorcery case

The Criminal Court has extended the remand of Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem, a state minister at the Ministry of Environment, by an additional week.

Shamnaz and her sister, Sana Saleem, were arrested for allegedly performing black magic on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

They were presented before the Criminal Court for a review of their remand on Monday.

The court ordered for the sisters to be held in police custody for an additional seven days.

Shamnaz was suspended from her post as state minister following her arrest.

However, the police have disclosed no detail about the investigation into the case.

Shamnaz is the former spouse of Adam Rameez, a minister at the President’s Office. The couple had divorced recently. Rameez has also been suspended, and there are reports that he has fled the country.

Shamnaz had previously served as a member of the Male’ City Council with President Muizzu, back when he was serving as the city’s mayor. But following his election to office last year, Shamnaz resigned from the council, and got appointed as a state minister at Muliaage, the official residence of the president. She was later transferred to the Environment Ministry.

The government has yet to make an official comment regarding the case.