The swift release of political prisoners on Monday night shows the extend of executive influence on the judiciary in the past years, says prominent scholar Sheikh Ali Zaid.

In a tweet shortly after the releases, Zaid said that the unlawful influence on the judiciary has caused great distress to people.

“The release of political prisoners like fireworks shows that the judiciary was heavily influenced these past days, even if it is the opposition, trials and proceedings should be lawful and just! So many people have been hurt by this!”, Zaid said.

The Criminal Court had on Monday released three lawmakers and the former commissioner of police, who had been remanded until sentencing on terror charges against them.

Lawyers representing them had asked the court to review their remand sentences after president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih demanded that the government immediately release them.

MPs Ilham Ahmed, Abdulla Sinan, Abdulla Riyaz, and former police commissioner Ahmed Areef were released on Monday night.