Thimarafushi Constituency MP Mohamed Musthafa says that if former President Maumoon’s son and Dhiggaru Constituency MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon is arrested, then five other MPs from the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) will defect to the opposition.

He made the statement in a tweet posted on Tuesday.

It is believed that he is referring to the list of MPs who had signed the no confidence motion Parliament Speaker Abdullah Maseeh.

MP Musthafa made the statement after Maldives Police Service held a press conference claiming they had enough prosecutorial evidence against the Parliamentarian on bribery charges.

MP Faris had also attended Court on Tuesday, after a case was lodged in Criminal Court over identity theft. The Parliamentarian is being charged with identity theft over the alleged illegal use of PMM’s flag and logo; a charge he denies.

MP Faris had been summoned to Police and Anti-Corruption Commission over various allegation and charges.

While he faces allegations of attempting to bribe his fellow Parliamentarians, MP Faris had denied these charges.