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A day after (29th June 2010) its national cabinet resigned en masse, the newly democratic Maldives seemed heading
towards a deepening political crisis with two opposition MPs being arrested on Wednesday on unspecified charges.
The country -- one of India’s closest west coast neighbours with friendly ties with New Delhi -- is currently without
an effective government after the 13-member resigned on Tuesday. The resignations followed a power clash between President
Mohammad Nasheed – he came to power in 2008 as the Maldives' first democratically elected leader --- and the Parliament,
where the opposition is in majority.
A statement from Nasheed’s office said the cabinet resigned ``protesting the behaviour of opposition MPs who were
“hijacking” the powers of the executive and making it impossible for the cabinet Ministers to discharge their
constitutional duties and deliver the government’s election manifesto.’’
“The Majlis (Parliament) is preventing the cabinet ministers from performing their legal obligations. Majlis members
are behaving against the spirit and the letter of the Constitution,” Nasheed’s statement said.
Nasheed added that he would investigate the reasons why the Majlis is preventing cabinet ministers from performing their
duties.
Soon after, police arrested two opposition MPs – Abdulla Yamin who heads People’s Alliance (PA) and Gasim Ibrahim,
leader of Jumhooree Party.
Reports from capital Male did not specify the charges but Husnu Suood, who resigned as the Attorney General, said Wednesday
that they were arrested in connection with corruption. “Police are investigating corruption following allegations of
bribery in parliament to turn votes,” Suood said.
Maldivian police on Tuesday arrested two lawmakers on graft charges as the US announced it would
send an envoy to the archipelago to try to resolve its deepening political crisis.
Vice speaker of parliament and opposition
lawmaker Ahmed Nazim and ruling party parliamentarian Mohamed Musthafa were arrested for allegedly bribing a judge in a civil
case, police said.
“The two MPs offered a civil court judge a 6,000-dollar cash bribe and three airtickets,”
police spokesman Ahmed Shiyam told.
Nazim was already under a 15-day house arrest on separate charges of bribing lawmakers
to block bills in parliament when he was detained on Tuesday, police said. Musthafa is the first ruling party lawmaker to
be arrested in a crackdown on corruption recently announced President Mohamed Nasheed, Shiyam said. The latest arrests came
as the US said Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake will visit the Maldives. afp
Court Orders
12 July - Supreme Court has ordered the release of MP for Maamigili, Qasim Ibrahim and MP for Mulaku, Abdulla Yaameen.
Supreme Court ordered the release of Qasim Ibrahim on the hearing of the appeal by Qasim Ibrahim, on the verdict by High
Court to extend his house arrest for 15 days. Qasim’s hearing was concluded around 1745 hrs. Yaameen’s appeal
case was held around 1900 hrs.
The appeal case was scheduled for today morning, however was delayed to afternoon.
High Court’s orders to keep both MPs in detention for 15 days were issued last Monday. However, Police have also
appealed the rulings by High Court, requesting that both Qasim and Yaameen should be detained in a detention facility.
However, Supreme Court ruled that High Court’s ruling to keep the MPs under house arrest was not correct.
Both Qasim and Yaameen have been denying the charges against them. Qasim has been maintaining that the charges and evidence
against him were fabricated.
Hassan Afeef, President’s Political Advisor has previously said that President Nasheed will accept Supreme Court
rulings on the case.
Further on 21st July, Criminal Court has declined to extend the detention of Ahmed Nazim, MP for
Dhiggaru and Deputy Speaker and Mohamed Musthafa, MP for Thimarafushi, in the first hearing of the case lodged by the Police
against both MPs for bribing judges with USD 6000 and 3 airline tickets.
During the hearing Police argued that if released both MPs would attempt to hide the evidences gathered
against them. Police also presented an audio by the both MPs as evidence on the case. Police also claimed to receive the clip
on 18 July, although Police did not comment on whether the clip was a conversation both MPs had on 18 July.
During the hearing Nazim also stated that he was arrested when he was at home and that Police was disrespectful
in the process. Police argued that the reason for the arrest was because Nazim might destroy the evidences. But Nazim said
that he do not believe that there was anything he can do to destroy evidence against him, if there were any evidences.
Police arrested both MPs after receiving appropriate warrants by the Criminal Court.
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