Attorney General

President’s Office has requested for advice from the Attorney General regarding the privileges and security to be accorded to former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Spokesperson of President’s Office Abbas Adil Riza said in an interview with Sun Online today that laws need to be amended in order to accord former President Nasheed the necessary privileges and security, and that the Attorney General is looking into this matter.

“The Attorney General has not responded formally to this request,” Abbas said.

Abbas said that according to existing laws, a president should have served a five-year term in order to be entitled to privileges; and the fact that Nasheed did not complete his five years needs to be taken into account.

However, as Nasheed is a former President of the Maldives, he has been accorded the necessary security as advised by President Dr Waheed.

“President Dr Waheed has conceded security to Nasheed, however, the financial privileges cannot be provided without considering the existing laws,” Abbas said.

Attorney General Aishath Azima Shakoor said that the matter relating to privileges to former president is under investigation, following a request received from Finance Ministry.

Article 3(a) of the law governing privileges and security for a former President states that a president who serves one term should be provided a monthly financial privilege of Rf 50,000; and a president who serves two terms should be provided Rf 75,000 monthly.

Article 107(a) of the constitution defines a presidential term as five years.