The Criminal Court on Sunday acquitted the former Minister of Defence and National Security, Ameen Faisal, of his terrorism charge, stating that the allegations against him were not proven.
Faisal was charged with terrorism after he arrested and detained President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who was then a lawmaker, in Aarah, Kaafu Atoll, in 2010.
President Yameen was detained in Aarah for over a week, with authorities stating that his detention was for his own security.
The state had prosecuted Faisal on terrorism charges.
During the hearing held Sunday to announce a verdict, the presiding Judge Ibrahim Ali stated that witness statements did not provide enough evidence against Faisal.
Judge Ali stated that as per the constitution, it falls on the security forces to provide protection for the members of parliament. He went on to say that there is reason to believe that President Yameen was detained in Aarah to protect him from the unrest in capital Male' at that time.
Faisal had requested earlier to bring in President Yameen to testify in his defence. However, the court had decided that there was no need to take the president's statement.
If Faisal had been found guilty, he would have faced a sentence of 10 - 15 years in jail or exile.
Although former President Mohamed Nasheed was also charged with terrorism over the detention of President Yameen during his presidency, the Criminal Court threw out the case last week.
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