Opposition activist Thayyib arrested, still in police custody

Opposition social media activist, Thayyib Shaheem, was arrested on Thursday night.

Thayyib was arrested around 12:45 am on Thursday night.

RaajjeMV understands that he was arrested regarding some audio clips he had leaked online, allegedly of the parliamentary group leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik. While RaajjeMV is unable to confirm a reason for his arrest, police media official confirms that Thayyib is still in custody.*

In the leaked audios, the Villimale MP is heard talking about why the amended they foreign land ownership bill, and new details about the controversial Faafu Atoll deal.

MP Nihan also talks about how Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud’s son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud has been interested in buying Himithi, an uninhabited island in Faafu Atoll, since December 2012, and how President Abdulla Yameen has made the deal possible.

According to Nihan, Prince Mohammed, the country’s defence minister, did not want the island for just 99 years as per law then, but to be able to pass the island to his next of kin.

READ MORE: Changed the law to allow Saudi Royal family's descendants to inherit an area of Faafu: MP Nihan

Leader of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), former President Mohamed Nasheed has called for his immediate release.

Nasheed said that Thayyib "was arrested after posts alleging handling of cargo in large amounts of dollars from helicopters to the Maldives Monetary Authority," and called on authorities to investigate "all allegations of money laundering and corruption".

Prior to his arrest, at 11:41 pm, Thayyib had sent out a tweet saying that "12 black suitcases, and 1 silver suitcase was taken to the VVIP bungalow in Aaarah from the Saudi [Royal] helicopter".

King Salman is to arrive in the Maldives on Saturday, as part of his month-long Asia tour.

*Correction made after publication