The state has released Former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim and Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla to house arrest. 

The Maldives Correctional Services said that the two politicians, serving controversial sentences that fueled accusations of political favouritism against the judiciary, were released on occasion of the month of Ramadan. 

Nazim was sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment on weapons possession charge. His has claimed that the weapons found in his home were planted there by the officers that searched it.

He was recently incarcerated, in March, after having served over a year of his sentence in house arrest. 

Sheikh Imran Abdulla was sentenced to 12 years on allegations of inciting violence against the state as he led a joint opposition rally in 2015. 

Despite his appeal, the High Court had upheld the sentence against him.