Four charges raised against detained officers

Four charges have been raised on eight officers who were arrested under the State of Emergency decree declared across the nation after incumbent President Yameen refused to implement an initial Supreme Court ruling releasing high profile political leaders and reinstating oppositions parliamentarians.

The officers were arrested under the allegations of conspiring to overthrow the government, for taking to the streets against Maldives security forces and for disrupting officers in line of duty at opposition rallies.

Charges were raised on them last week under sections 512, 532, 533- which comes under "Bribery and Official Misconduct Offenses"- of the Penal Code as well as section 615 which comes under "Public Order and Safety Offenses".

• - Section 512 states that a person commits this offense if, being a public official, acting in his official capacity, he "knowingly fails to perform a mandatory duty as required by law or performs acts that is not lawfully authorized"
• - Section 532 states that a person commits this offense if he "knowingly resists, obstructs or interferes with the performance of an authorized act within the official capacity of a person who is a law enforcement officer or custodial officer"
• - Section 533 states that a person commits this offense if he "knowingly obstructs, impairs or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function by physical interference or obstacle, breach of official duty or any unlawful act"
• - Section 615 states that a person commits this crime if "knowingly engages in fighting, or in violent or threatening behavior, or makes unreasonable noise or uses abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture"

While sections 512, 532, 533 are class 1 misdemeanors, section 615 is a claass 3 misdemeanors.

After an investigation into the matter, police's disciplinary committee relieved the eight officers from duty. They are: Special Operations Unit's former Commander Police Inspector Saif Hussain, Former officer of the Police SWAT team, Sergeant Mohamed Riyaz, Station Inspector Faiz Mohamed, Sergeants Ahmed Asim and Ali Rishwan and Corporals Ali Naseer, Mohamed Shameen and Hassan Naseer.

Along with the eight, Commissioner of Police Ahmed Areef had been arrested and charged with terrorism following the release of the Supreme Court ruling on the 01st of February, backed by the court's full bench.

Refusing to implement the order, President Yameen had declared a State of Emergency throughout the nation on the 5th of February, which was later extended by 30 days after the initial 15 days passed.

After a prolongation of 45 days, the SoE was lifted on the afternoon of the 22nd March Thursday, mere hours before it's expiration.