Ex-Maldives President Gayyoom shifted to Maafushi Prison

Male [Maldives], Feb 09 (ANI): After spending two days at Dhoonidhoo Detention Centre, former Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom was on Thursday night transferred to Maafushi Prison, an hour away from Male.

The half-brother of President Abdulla Yameen, who is charged with bribing lawmakers, exerting undue influence on the judiciary, conspiring to illegally stage a coup, and inciting violence and calling the security forces to revolt against the government, was arrested on February 2, Maldives Times reported.

The former President has denied all the charges.

His lawyer and former Deputy Prosecutor General Hussein Shameem said he was informed of the transfer but the reason was not specified. The prison only supports basic medical care.

Gayyoom was arrested from his home in Male shortly after the President on Tuesday night declared a state of emergency for 15-days.

His son-in-law Mohamed Nadheem was also arrested along with Gayyoom who served the country between 1978 and 2008.

His son Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon was also put back into prison. He was released on Tuesday morning after the country's Criminal Court ordered his immediate release, following the Supreme Court's ruling regarding the release of all political prisoners.

Former Vice President Ahmed Adheeb, who was serving a 33-year jail term for orchestrating a plot to assassinate Yameen, was also transferred from Dhoonidhoo Detention Centre to Maafushi Prison following the Supreme Court's ruling.(ANI)