President Gayoom sentenced to 19 months in prison

Former President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been sentenced to 19 months in prison by a Maldives court having been accused of plotting to overthrow the government and for failing to corporate with police investigations. Having ruled the country from 1978 to 2008, he is the second former president to be jailed under President Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s rule.

He was previously arrested in February on charges of attempting to overthrow the government of Yameen, his half-brother. The courts sentenced him on Wednesday to one year, seven months and six days in prison for failing to hand over his mobile phone to the investigators upon request.

Former president of Maldives Mohammed Nasheed said in an exclusive interview with News 1st,  that the situation was completely outrageous, but that they’ve seen it coming.

“President Yameen has arrested the whole of the opposition including his brother, former president Gayoom who has been in jail for the last three months. He has been sentenced for one year and seven months. President Yameen has also arrested the chief justice and another Justice of the Supreme court.”

He further added that the judiciary of Maldives has completely been dismantled and that Yameen had lost the support of the people.

Although September 23rd has been announced as the date for the next Presidential election, Nasheed believes that an all-inclusive election cannot be held when members of the opposition and state officials are imprisoned in this manner.