Man, A Maldivian court on Monday extended the judicial remand of former State Minister Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem and her sister Hawwa Sana Saleem by a week for allegedly performing black magic on President Mohamed Muizzu, according to media reports.
Police arrested Shamnaz, who was a state minister in the Environment Ministry, her sister Sana and the alleged witchdoctor based on a police intelligence report last week.
They were arrested on June 23 for using sorcery or black magic "to get close" to President Muizzu, the Adhadhu news portal reported. His initial seven-day pretrial detention period ended Monday.
The preventive detention hearing for the two sisters was held in the Criminal Court, which extended their preventive detention by one week, according to the report.
The alleged sorcerer was released, according to the police.
Shamnaz was suspended from her position as minister of state following her arrest. Her ex-husband Adam Rameez, who served as a minister in the Presidential Office, was also suspended in the case, news portal Sun.mv reported, adding that he had reportedly fled the country.
The government has not yet made an official comment on the case.
Meanwhile, police on Sunday sought digital information of the two sisters and seized their phones, a sealed mobile phone, a key tag distributed during an Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) tournament, a lock of hair found in Sana's room and a necklace from Shamnaz's house. room, according to a separate report by Adhadhu.
The key confiscated by police was a wool stuffed animal, according to the report.
A list of items needed for the investigation included mobile phones, pen drives, external hard drives, computer systems, laptops, any device that can store digital data, books related to the case and any items used for witchcraft or black magic.
According to the report, the police have not revealed whether the target of Shamnaz's alleged witchcraft was the president, her ex-husband Adam or someone else.
Shamnaz and Sana were arrested for allegedly paying the sorcerer on several occasions to practice "witchcraft and black magic to break up a couple and win love and establish close relationships with people," according to the report.
Police arrested Shamnaz, who was a state minister in the Environment Ministry, her sister Sana and the alleged witchdoctor based on a police intelligence report last week.
They were arrested on June 23 for using sorcery or black magic "to get close" to President Muizzu, the Adhadhu news portal reported. His initial seven-day pretrial detention period ended Monday.
The preventive detention hearing for the two sisters was held in the Criminal Court, which extended their preventive detention by one week, according to the report.
The alleged sorcerer was released, according to the police.
Shamnaz was suspended from her position as minister of state following her arrest. Her ex-husband Adam Rameez, who served as a minister in the Presidential Office, was also suspended in the case, news portal Sun.mv reported, adding that he had reportedly fled the country.
The government has not yet made an official comment on the case.
Meanwhile, police on Sunday sought digital information of the two sisters and seized their phones, a sealed mobile phone, a key tag distributed during an Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) tournament, a lock of hair found in Sana's room and a necklace from Shamnaz's house. room, according to a separate report by Adhadhu.
The key confiscated by police was a wool stuffed animal, according to the report.
A list of items needed for the investigation included mobile phones, pen drives, external hard drives, computer systems, laptops, any device that can store digital data, books related to the case and any items used for witchcraft or black magic.
According to the report, the police have not revealed whether the target of Shamnaz's alleged witchcraft was the president, her ex-husband Adam or someone else.
Shamnaz and Sana were arrested for allegedly paying the sorcerer on several occasions to practice "witchcraft and black magic to break up a couple and win love and establish close relationships with people," according to the report.