MALE, Maldives (AP) — The Maldives Supreme Court on Thursday night ordered the release of imprisoned politicians, including an ex-president and an ex-vice president who were jailed allegedly after flawed trials. The court also ordered retrials.
The court said verdicts against the politicians have been influenced. It also reinstated 12 lawmakers who had previously been declared as having lost their positions for switching allegiance to the opposition.
The order could be a major blow to President Yameen Abdul Gayoom who has a tight grip on power, controlling institutions like the judiciary, police and the bureaucracy. His immediate setback would be losing the majority in the 85-member Parliament to an opposition alliance, with the reinstatement of the 12 lawmakers.
It also means the archipelago state's first democratically-elected president Mohamed Nasheed jailed on terrorism charges, and Gayoom's former deputy Ahmed Adeeb jailed for allegedly plotting to kill the president could be set free. Others to be released are Gayoom's former defense minister Mohamed Nazim, leaders of two political parties, a former judge and a former state prosecutor general.
The trials received local and international condemnation for alleged due process violations.
Nasheed, who was jailed for 13 years on terrorism charges now lives in Britain having received asylum there while on medical leave. The release may also pave the way for his eligibility to contest the presidential election later this year.
Maldives, known for its luxury tourist resorts became a multiparty democracy 10 years ago after decades of autocratic rule. However, it has lost much of its democratic gains since Gayoom was elected in 2013.