Maldives Police Service (MPS) has removed statues featured in the Coralarium in Fairmont Maldives' Sirru Fenfushi resort.
Police removed the statutes following a Civil Court order issued on September 20, providing the resort a 5-hour period to remove them.
The order states that the request to remove the statues was made because the Coralarium was not built according to the permitted design. It further explains that the inter-tidal gallery obstructed religious unity and communal peace within the Maldives.
The Coralarium, designed by Jason deCaires Taylor, an English sculptor and environmentalist, is the first ever museum of its kind. The semi-submerged museum featured 14 humanoid sculptures which were heavily criticized by religious leaders and political figures.