Fall-out between PPM loyalists at MBC, complaint filed at police

An issue within the pro-government Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) has become public after its president lodged a 'kidnapping' complaint against his deputy at the police.

While Mohamed Shaheeb claims that Ismail Sofwan had held him hostage and threatened to force resignation, Sofwan denies this.

Citing Shaheeb, online news 'Mihaaru' detailed the events. While Shaheeb declined to provide a comment to RaajjeMV, he did not deny Mihaaru's report.

It reported that Sofwan had called him for a private meeting ahead of their daily office meeting. While Shaheeb is to have attempted to avoid the meeting, his deputy insisted on meeting at Shaheeb's office at the Commission.

Noting that there was a long-haired gentleman in Sofwan's office at the time, Shaheeb told 'Mihaaru' that he was then given three choices: resign, take an eight-day leave or issues a memo assigning his responsibilities to Sofwan for eight days.

He was further told that he would not be able to leave the office until he makes a choice, and threatened against using his phone. The long-haired man is to have stood outside Shaheeb's office during the duration.

However, Sofwan denied the allegations and having any knowledge of a complaint against him saying, 'ask the police'.

Maldives Broadcasting Commission has faced immense backlash in recent years, and has been described as one filled with 'PPM loyalists' to restrict press freedom and the freedom of speech.