Photos, videos most accessed on opposition activist Shiman’s phone while in police custody

Photos and videos appear to have been accessed the most on the phone of opposition activist Aaishath Shiman Ahmed while it was held in police custody, according to data from the device’s battery usage report.

Shiman’s phone was seized on 8 October under a court order after she allegedly made threatening comments against President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on the social media platform X. The device was returned to her on the night of 12 October.

Her lawyer, Aik Ahmed Eesa, said the battery usage data showed that the phone’s gallery; the Google Photos app had been used for a total of 33 minutes during the period it was held by police. The iPhone’s system records the duration of app usage, and Aik shared a screenshot of it showing the activity.

The photo also indicated that only about one minute had been spent on X, the Messages app, and Telegram during the same period.

While the phone was seized in relation to a post on X, most of the recorded activity was within the photo storage app.

There have also been allegations that a photo from the phone was leaked while it was in police custody.

Following the allegations, police issued a statement denying the claims, after being accused of creating a social media account under the handle "Shiman’s Phone" and posting a photo of her.

Maldives Police Service said its digital forensic processes were conducted “in accordance with international standards” and that “there is no possibility of information leakage from any mobile phone in police custody”.

Police have recently faced similar accusations.

These include the alleged leak of a video belonging to MDP national assembly member Fathimath Zahiya, (Zaya), while her phone was in police custody following a Facebook post warning police. Police have also been accused of leaking footage from a raid that allegedly showed minors inside an apartment.

The police have denied all such allegations.