Opposition calls to "take to the streets" against current administration

Opposition Progressive Coalition has called on the people to take to the streets, to protest against the incumbent administration.

Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Abdul Raheem Abdulla, made the appeal at a press conference held on Monday.

At the press conference, Abdul Raheem stated that opposition leader former President Abdulla Yameen has been politically

Noting that former President Abdulla Yameen’s money laundering charge is politically motivated, the PNC leader called on the public to join the protest against this

As such, the opposition coalition plans to hold a protest outside the office of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) on Monday night.

Also at the press conference, Abdul Raheem noted that there are inconsistencies in the charge raised against the former president and the investigation carried out by the Maldives Police Service (MPS).

He claimed that Yameen had been charged regarding an issue of an island “that the police had not even investigated.”

Furthermore, Abdul Raheem said that the “biggest proof” that this is a political charge is that the suspension of the presiding judge “just a few hours ahead of the verdict hearing.”

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) decided to suspend Criminal Court Chief Judge Ahmed Hailam after launching a disciplinary investigation against him. The judge has since claimed that senior government officials had attempted to influence his verdict in Yameen’s case prior to suspension, however, he did not release their details. While he also claimed that the interim chief judge will also be facing these pressures, Judge Ali Rasheed denied Hailam’s accusations.

The PNC leader also vowed “to do everything needed” to ensure the downfall of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration.

Former President Yameen is on trial on money laundering charges over USD one million deposited to his personal account by SOF, a company that was used to funnel the bulk of USD 90 million stolen from state coffers.

While last week’s verdict hearing in the case was cancelled after Hailam’s suspension, a hearing has been scheduled for November 17.