Ex-President Yameen threatens to file constitutional case if inquiry commission bill passes

Former President Abdulla Yameen has threatened to file a constitutional case with the Supreme Court if the bill on inquiry commissions are passed.

At a Progressive Party of Maldives gathering on Thursday night, held to give out party tickets to several members contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections, Yameen said that he believes granting the commissions legal powers is unconstitutional.

In this regard, Yameen said that the bill is not something the parliament can legally pass and that he would file a constitutional case over the matter if they do so.

Yameen said if the Supreme Court supports the legislature, then he would do so as well. However, speaking at Thursday’s gathering, Yameen had claimed that the bill contained stipulations that it does not.

As such, the former president said that the draft bill gives the inquiry commissions authority to arrest, search properties, and freeze assets belonging to their targets; while any arrests has to go through the court and can only be carried out by the police.