Politicians, members of judiciary charged with terrorism, moved to Maafushi Prison

Several high-profile figures that were recently charged with terrorism during the state of emergency have been transferred to Maafushi Prison.

On Sunday, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, his son-in-law Mohamed Nadheem, and son and Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon, Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed, Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed, former Commissioner of Police Ahmed Areef and Dhangethi MP Ilham Ahmed were all transferred the prison facility in Maafushi, in Kaafu atoll.

Siyad Qasim, son of opposition Jumhoory Party’s leader Qasim Ibrahim and the Managing Director of his company Villa Shipping and Trading Company Pvt Ltd, who was charged with offering a bribe, was also moved to Maafushi Prison along with the others on Sunday.

The prominent political detainees were kept in Dhoonidhoo Prison before; the reason for their transfer was not disclosed, and Maldives Correction Services was not available for a comment.

Kinbidhoo lawmaker and a former police commissioner Abdullah Riyaz, who was also charged with terrorism, is already in Maafushi Prison.

Meanwhile, Machangoalhi-South MP Abdullah Sinan is the only individual who was also charged with terrorism remaining in Dhoonidhoo Prison, along with Judicial Service Administrator Hassan Saeed, who was charged with obstructing administration of the law, and for accepting a bribe.

The Criminal Court last Wednesday ordered the remand of all of the detainees who were arrested under the state of emergency, until the end of their trials. This marked the first time in Maldives’ recent history for the state to indict a chief justice.

Just hours after a state of emergency was declared on February 5, the two top justices and the Judicial Service Administrator were arrested from the premises of the Supreme Court by military forces in riot gear. The same night, Maumoon and his son-in-law were also arrested.

In a crackdown that followed during the state of emergency, the police had arrested the remaining the individuals and a cache of serious charges were levied against them, including attempt to overthrow the government and orchestrating acts of terrorism, offering and accepting bribes, obstructing the administration of law and obstructing government functions.