Three lawmakers and former commissioner of police Ahmed Areef, who were facing charges of bribery and terrorism, have been released from custody.

The Criminal Court had on Thursday night reviewed their remand sentence and found no reason to keep them detained, given that the police had also not challenged the decision in court.

MPs Ilham Ahmed, Abdulla Sinan, Abdulla Riyaz, and commissioner Areef were remanded until sentencing solely on the police’s request and information provided in their ‘intelligence report’.

Lawyers representing these individuals had asked the court to review their remand sentences. MP Riyaz, representing the Kimbidhoo constituency, was released on Monday evening while the rest were released at about 10:30 PM.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, his son MP Faris Maumoon, former Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, and former Supreme Court justice Ali Hameed were also brought to court on Monday night but were detained due to them already serving criminal sentences.

Maumoon and former justices Saeed and Hameed are serving sentences for refusing to allow access to their mobile phones in the police’s investigation against them for conspiring to overthrow the government.

President elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has demanded that the government release all political prisoners, and had reportedly personally asked this of President Abdulla Yameen, whom he met on Monday.