Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) has passed to fine RaajjeTV by MVR 200,000 (US$ 12,970.17) and journalist by MVR 50,000 (US$ 3,242.54). The decision was arrived at after reviewing a case submitted to the Commission.

In a letter sent to the station on Tuesday detailing the details of the case and verdict, MB said that in three news bulletins broadcast on November 19, 2016, regarding a rape case, the details of the alleged rapist. The details were as reported by the family of the raped individual. MBC said that the news violated the clauses of 10 of Anti-Defamation Bill. Additionally, the letter stated that by revealing the identity of the alleged rapist had defamed the individual.

As such, the channel was fined by MVR 200,000 under chapter six, clause 14 (b) and (e) and clause 10 (a) (i) of the Anti-Defamation Bill. The journalist, Aalaa Ibrahim, is to be fined by MVR 50,000 under clause 10 (b) of the bill. Aalaa Ibrahim is no longer an employee of the station.

MBC had instructed the channel and the journalist to pay up the amount within a 30-day period, starting from March 7, 2017.

This is the first time the draconian Defamation Bill had been put into practice.