State minister accused of 'witchcraft' gets 7 days remand

State Minister for Environment Fatima Shamnaz Ali Saleem has been remanded in custody for seven days.

Shamnaz and two others were arrested last Sunday. Shamnaz is being prosecuted for allegedly practicing witchcraft against President Mohammed Muizzu and his family.

Police said in a statement on Monday that the two women arrested in the case were produced before the Criminal Court for a decision on their remand.

Shamnaz and her ex-husband, Presidential Office Minister Adam Rameez, have been suspended.

While both Rameez and Shamnaz were suspended from their posts, Shamnaz’s photo has also been removed from the President’s Office website.

Before being appointed as the State Minister for Environment, Shamnaz was a councillor for Henveiru South constituency of the Male City Council.

Rameez, who used to work as a close associate of the President, was also a member of the Male City Council.