Broadcom probes Channel 13’s report on woman’s death
The Broadcasting Commission took action yesterday, instructing Channel 13 to refrain from airing the report, which was titled "Balcony."
The Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) has initiated an investigation into a controversial report aired by Channel 13 regarding the death of a young woman who fell from a nine-storey building in August.
The report, which has sparked concern from both the family and officials, allegedly implicates deputy speaker of parliament Ahmed Nazim, who shares a familial relationship with the woman.
The Broadcasting Commission took action on Monday, instructing Channel 13 to refrain from airing the report, which was titled "Balcony."
The report, according to Broadcom, includes serious allegations against Ahmed Nazim. The family of the deceased had already raised concerns about the broadcast, which prompted them to submit a formal complaint to the police. Subsequently, the police relayed the matter to the Broadcasting Commission for further scrutiny.
In a formal letter to Channel 13, Broadcom emphasised that the report should not be aired and urged the network to comply with the national Code of Journalistic Ethics. Despite these instructions, Channel 13 proceeded with airing the report on Tuesday, prompting the commission to launch an investigation.
In its latest directive, the Broadcasting Commission reiterated its request for Channel 13 to halt the broadcasting of the report and remove any related content from social media platforms until the investigation is concluded. The commission has prioritised this case, treating it as an urgent matter.
The report centres around the death of a 25-year-old woman, who fell from the building she was living in. The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, but the public airing of the incident, coupled with the allegations against a prominent political figure, has raised questions about media responsibility and the ethical handling of sensitive news stories.
