Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Thursday visited his jailed son, Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon, at the Maafushi Prison.
This is the first time the former president is visiting his son since his initial visit on July 18, when MP Faris was arrested for bribery and undue influence on lawmakers ahead of the censure motion against the parliament’s speaker.
Meanwhile, the MP is also undergoing another trial over misusing the flag and logo of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
Maumoon was accompanied by his daughter and Ministry of Health’s state minister, Dunya Maumoon.
MP Faris’ mother Nasreena Ibrahim and his sister Yumna Maumoon had visited him earlier during his incarceration; however, they were not seen on Thursday.
His family has been advocating his release and claiming that he was arrested wrongfully.
The former president has claimed that the state does not have enough evidence to keep MP Faris remanded, and raised concerns over other state institution’s failures to take action against the “injustice.”
If MP Faris is found guilty of the bribery allegations, he faces a sentence of three years, two months and 12 days of imprisonment. He would also be disqualified from his seat in the parliament, as he would be serving a sentence exceeding 12 months. If he is found guilty of the misuse of PPM’s flag and logo charges, he would get an additional nine months and 18 days of imprisonment.
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