Police have returned the confiscated phones to RaajjeTV's programmes head Amir Saleem and senior video journalist Mohamed Wisam.

Amir and Wisam were arrested on March 16 over their alleged involvement in making YouTube videos showing masked men in police uniform threatening to join the opposition protests.

The court ordered their release 11 days later on March 27 after police failed to present any evidence against them. They were released on condition that they would seek permission from the police service before travelling out of Male’ City.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s media coordinator Hassan Ismail has also been released, but authorities have said they are still investigating the case.

While Wisam was arrested while covering a mass anti-government protest, Amir was arrested outside the RaajjeTV station mere hours after PPM's PG leader declared that the station had a hand in making the YouTube videos.