Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has appealed the jail sentence of one year and seven months imposed on him by the Criminal Court.
The lower court last month found him guilty of obstructing justice over refusing to hand over his mobile phone to the police for investigation. He was arrested early February under the state of emergency declared after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on February 1 to release political prisoners.
It marked the first time Gayoom was convicted of a criminal offence since he lost the Presidential Election 2008.
The former president's lawyers confirmed Sunday that they have appealed his jail verdict.
Former chief justice, Abdulla Saeed, and former top court judge, Ali Hameed, were also convicted alongside Gayoom and received the same sentence. However it remains unclear whether the two ex-justices have appealed their verdict at the High Court as well.
Former President Gayoom is also facing a terrorism trial over allegedly conspiring to overthrow the government. If convicted, he would be sentenced to a period of 17 years in incarceration.
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