Maldives Police Service (MPS) has released all but one arrested from the opposition protest staged in capital Malé City on Saturday evening.

All 41 supporters of the opposition coalition comprising of Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) who were arrested on Saturday were fined before all of them, except for one, were released.

Police media revealed that they were fined by MVR 1,000 for breaching the public health safety guidelines established by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). The total amounts to MVR 41,000.

The individual who remains in police custody had threatened a police officer.

While opposition supporters had taken to the streets on motorcycles, police revealed that they had towed one vehicle and relocated several others. The vehicle was towed due to an issue with registration, revealed the police who also noted that the owners of the relocated vehicles may contact them for further location details.

The police institution took the participants into police custody for gathering in violation of the safety guidelines and measures placed against the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as well as putting the general public at risk at a time a state of public health emergency is in place.

MPS continues to urge the general public to adhere to the guidelines and safety measures in place to curb the spread of the infection, to ensure their safety and that of others, at a time authorities are locked in a battle against the pandemic.

Earlier on Saturday, police warned of strict legal action against those who organize and take part in public gatherings and rallies in breach of the guidelines and instructions issued by HPA.

Saturday’s protest was the third one of its kind and opposition coalition member PPM and some of the opposition leaders were slapped with fines for staging protests in violation of safety guidelines, previously. As such, PPM was fined MVR 75,000 and some of its leaders, MVR 1,000.

These protests have drawn public criticism as they are being staged at a time public health officials are urging public cooperation and to play their part as a responsible citizen to ensure the spread of the virus is curbed at the earliest.