Minister Shainee responds to Dunya Maumoon's call to release father

Fisheries Minister Mohamed Shainee has responded to state minister Dunya Maumoon’s call on authorities to release her father, opposition leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Dunya had on Monday morning called on the government to ensure that Maumoon has access to his family, legal representation, and healthcare.

Shainee responded to this to say that former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been accused of a legitimate crime and that he should not be treated any different to other ‘alleged criminals’.

Minister Shainee is one of the current government’s staunchest inside supporters and he has previously been the face of the government’s call for ‘all party talks’, of inclusive dialogue between the administration and the opposition.

Maumoon, who is also a former president of this republic, is accused of bribing Supreme Court justices into issuing a verdict that allegedly favours the opposition.

Police claim to have found evidence, through documentation and financial trials, that link him specifically to the alleged bribery of Justice Ali Hameed.