Fatimat Shamnaz Ali Saleem, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Energy, has been arrested by the Maldives police. She is accused of witchcraft.
Local newspaper The Sun reports that the minister is suspected of using black magic against the country's President Mohamed Muizu.
Praditin Time TV channel notes that the minister was taken into custody back on June 23. In addition, one of her relatives and an alleged sorcerer were also arrested along with her. Media reports say that all the detainees took part in a magical ritual that was conducted in order for Salim to get close to the president again.
Fatimat previously worked in the presidential palace before taking up the position of Minister of Environmental Protection. Also, her ex-husband used to be one of the president's cronies and was one of the ministers, but he was removed from his position a few months ago.
Witchcraft is not a criminal offense in the Maldives, but is punishable by a six-month prison term under Sharia law.