The Jumhooree Party has on Friday night said that its leader Qasim Ibrahim is being kept in detention to subject him to physical abuse.
In a statement following the Criminal Court decision to remand Qasim by 15 days, the Jumhooree Party said that the arrest is a sign that the Maldivian political sphere is growing chaotic.
The party further said that the charges against its leader is heavily politicized and has been used as a means to assault and harass him.
“He has been repeatedly summoned for questioning, they have searched his home, his office, and his phone and yet they find no compelling evidence to prove their claims, this is evidence that these allegations are baseless” the statement said.
Officers arrested and detained Qasim Ibrahim on the night of 6th April on allegations of bribery, attempting to influence the conduct of a public official, and trying to sway a voter.
The charges claim he had attempted to bribe parliamentarians in order to influence the vote of no-confidence against parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh in the opposition’s favour, and further trying to influence the conduct of other public officials and even law enforcement forces and further trying to sway public trust against the government, thus presenting a threat to public safety – the police’s arrest warrant claimed.
Police announced at midnight on 19th April that they are investigating Qasim for disrupting national unity and inciting violence against the government.
Qasim told the press that he is being investigated under section 610 of the penal code, which is classified under ‘rioting’ outlaws inciting, aiding, or engaging in any ‘violent attempts to overthrow the government’.
He was arrested again on from his home on Thursday night, and promptly taken to a holding cell in Dhoonidhoo island.
Friday's statement had also noted the case against MP Faris Maumoon, and claimed that the government is deliberately abusing the local justice system to isolate and eradicate its opposition.
