| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Former Maldives leader Gayoom freed on bail a week after election |
| 2018-10-01 |
| [Al Jazeera] Former Maldives president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been released on bail a week after his estranged half-brother Abdulla Yameen was defeated in a presidential election. Gayoom, the Indian Ocean island nation's longest-serving leader, and his politician son Faris Maumoon were released on Sunday by the High Court in capital Male after they filed fresh appeals against their controversial convictions. Gayoom, 80, was tossed in the slammer Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! in February along with the country's chief justice and another Supreme Court judge for attempting to topple Yameen, who declared a 45-day state of emergency to block his impeachment. The High Court released Gayoom on a bail of 60,000 rufiyaa ($3,900) and he was also ordered not to travel abroad without its permission. Gayoom was serving a 19-month jail term for obstruction of justice and was also under trial on a "terrorism" charge. "Finally, they are all home," Gayoom's daughter Yumna Maumoon said on Twitter. "Hope and pray that all political prisoners will be released soon. The nightmare is finally over Insha Allah. Thank you all who struggled hard for this day." |
| Posted by:Fred |