President Abdulla Yameen had lied about Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz, says his family.

In a press release, Riyaz’s family denied President Yameen’s claim in a speech that MP Riyaz was jailed after he refused to hand over his phone and give his PIN code to the police during their investigation.

Riyaz’s family accused President Yameen of lying to hoodwink the citizens during his speech in HDh. Hanimaadhoo in which he implied that Riyaz was jailed because of his refusal to assist in the investigation.

In the press release, Riyaz’s family said that he had immediately given his phone to the police upon request and that he had initially refused to give his PIN code since it was not specified in the court order but that he had later given the code after the court requested him.

The family also said that Riyaz was arrested to silence parliament members and to obstruct Riyaz’s work in the opposition coalition parties’ reform efforts.