The Maldives Government has said that there is no conspiracy to “unwarrantedly convict” former President Mohamed Nasheed in order to prevent him from participating in the political arena.
“In fact, he contested the last Presidential elections in late 2013, while the case was on-going. This amply proves that there are no conspiracy theories to eliminate him from the political arena,” the Maldives High Commission in India has said in an “open letter to all stakeholders in India”.
AFP reported earlier this month that Nasheed was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison after a quick and disputed trial for allegedly ordering a senior judge arrested while in office. The statement, however, says that Nasheed was charged and convicted for ordering the adduction of a senior Judge of the criminal court and illegally keeping him captive for 22 days. The statement adds that the Prosecutor General charged Nasheed under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1990 which classifies and act of terrorism to include “kidnapping, holding as hostage or apprehending some one against their will or attempts to kidnap, hold hostage or apprehend someone without their will.”
The letter adds that in the last few days there has been a lot of “speculation and misrepresentation” of facts regarding the recent developments in the Republic of Maldives and says that the letter aims at setting the record straight and gives the facts regarding the arrest, prosecution and subsequent sentencing of former President Nasheed.
The Ministry of External Affairs had expressed “deep concerned” over the developments in the Maldives a day after Nasheed was arrested.
The High Commission’s letter, dated March 23 but was released to the media on Tuesday.