Fisheries Minister Mohamed Shainee is liable for prosecution in a crime that could have him serving an 11-year jail term, prominent lawyer Husnu Suood has said.

Suood said in a tweet on Tuesday that Shainee could be tried for abuse of power – or malfeasance in office – which carries a jail term of 11 years and eight months.

He told RaajjeMV that a number of parliamentarians have accused Shainee of abusing his position as a cabinet minister.

Suood referred to another tweet, sent out by MP Ahmed Mahloof in response to the lawyers, to support this statement. Mahloof had said that Shainee had been responsible for dismissing a Civil Court judge and politically motivated charges against parliamentarians.