Jailed ex-President Yameen transferred to Maafushi Prison

Maldives Correctional Service has announced that jailed former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has been transferred to Maafushi Prison.

A media official from the correctional service revealed that the former president was transferred to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) of Maafushi Prison sometime on Saturday afternoon.

He was transferred after being temporarily detained at Male' prison until admission procedures such as medical assessments were completed.

Yameen was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday, after being found guilty of laundering USD through the state-owned Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) via a private company SoF, during his presidency.

Opposition supporters rallied outside the Malé Prison late Friday night, calling to free their leader. As such, supporters of the opposition coalition, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) called for Yameen’s immediate release.

Following the rally, the opposition took to social media to condemn the use of force by police against protesters last night "resulting in injuries and arrests" and claimed that the current administration is "undermining political rights in the Maldives".

As such, Maldives experienced a rise in police brutality during Yameen's regime, especially, throughout the 45-day state of emergency declared in 2018 where his administration arrested his own half-brother and political opponent, former President Gayoom, as well as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ali Hameed, and Administrator of Department of Judicial Administration.

Police cracked down on Maumoon faction supporters and other opposition members that protested. Likewise, videos circulated on social media showing officers beating a protester inside a police jeep and a man was reported to have fallen into a coma after being pepper-sprayed directly in the face by a police officer.

Furthermore, after the May Day protest of 2015, hundreds were arrested and complaints of police brutality and beatings in custody were reported to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).

Moreover, protests were restricted and declared unlawful under Yameen's regime after amendments were made to the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act of 2013.

Nonetheless, while the former president was being kept under special protection at Male' prison, the opposition expressed concern over the prison's conditions.

As such, the Special Protection Unit at Maafushi Prison, where Yameen is currently being detained, was built during Yameen's administration after the sentencing of former President Mohamed Nasheed in 2015.