Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s office has called for the release of Mohamed Azmee, a member of his security team, and Najma Ibrahim who works at the office.

They were arrested on January 31 under a court order for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government by bribing and attempting to bribe MPs and had remained in jail for 80 days.

Police have claimed they had found a black box inside Najma’s house, in which were documents relating to the overthrow of government.

In the remand hearing on February 1, the Criminal Court remanded them for the rest of their trials. However, they were summoned to court on Sunday and remanded for 15 days. Najma has been transferred to house arrest, but Azmeen is to be kept in Dhoonidhoo Prison.

In a press release on Friday, President Maumoon’s office stated that Azmee had been working honestly and diligently in President Maumoon’s for 10 years, and Najma for 13 years and that they were arrested under false allegations.

Maumoon’s office highlighted that Najma’s remand hearing was held without allowing her lawyer to respond, and that as a mother of a nine-month old baby and a schoolchild, it has become difficult for her to take her child to school.

The office noted that the two have been remanded while still not being charged and so called on authorities to fulfill their obligations according to law.