Maldives police have arrested two serving ministers for allegedly performing black magic on President Mohamed Muizzu, local media reported on Thursday.

Shamnaz Saleem, the state minister at the Environment Ministry, and her ex-husband Adam Rameez, who was serving as a minister at the President’s Office, were taken into custody along with two others.

The police have not disclosed details about the reasons or the alleged performance of black magic.

While sorcery is not a criminal offence under Maldivian law, it does carry a six-month jail sentence under Islamic law.

Traditional ceremonies and beliefs in black magic are widely practiced across the Maldivian archipelago.

However, the current case involving the arrest of two serving ministers for allegedly using witchcraft against the president appears to be unprecedented in the Maldives.