Police arrest a coconut

Police in the Maldives arrested a coconut. They said it was full of black magic to change election results. The "suspicious fruit" had Arabic writing on it. It was a "sura" (a verse from the Koran). People worried about it. They thought it might affect Saturday's national election. People think black magic can change how people vote or stop them voting. The police spoke to a "ruqyah" (a good magician), who said the coconut was fake and had no black magic.

The police said it was a joke. People would understand the message and not do it again. A news website said black magic affects life on the Maldives. In July, a school didn't let a voting box into the building. Teachers worried it would make students ill. In 2012, a religious leader said it was time to stop black magic. He said it was a sin. He also said it caused problems for many families. The leader said black magic was a big social issue in the Maldives.