Male’, Maldives – Maldives Police Service on Friday, has released the protesters arrested at the gathering organised by the opposition coalition of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC).
Sixprotesters were arrested at the protest held near the Criminal Court, on Thursday, while the hearing for the money laundering and bribery charges against former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was in progress. Police stated that they were released as there was no reason to hold them in custody, but assured that the investigation into the matter was ongoing.
It was revealed by Spokesperson of the Opposition Coalition Heena Waleed that six people have been arrested from the peaceful gathering. She also noted that the arrested supporters of Yaameen included three members of the PPM Council. This includes Council member Ahmed Nareesh, Fathmath Fazla and Soodha Abdullah.
Vice President of People’s National Congress Mohamed Saeed tweeted saying that the Protesters gathered near the Criminal Court to express their anger over the government’s control over the judiciary system and the continued foreign influence on state matters.
Yameen, currently serving a five-year prison sentence on money laundering charges is currently standing trial for two additional charges over his involvement in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement scandal, which cost the state MVR 4 billion in potential revenue loss. The court will also announce the verdict of Yameen’s five-year sentence appeal within the next week.
