Nasheed appeals to President for commutation of sentence

Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s lawyer Hassan Latheef has sent a letter to President Abdulla Yameen, requesting to commute Nasheed’s sentence.

Hassan Latheef made this request with reference to Article 29 (c) of the Clemency Act, which states that the President “has the discretion, on the President’s own initiative, to commute the sentence of a person convicted of a criminal offence based on their age, health, treatment they are currently undergoing, their status and circumstance, or from a humanitarian perspective.”

Earlier, President Yameen urged Nasheed’s lawyers to appeal Nasheed’s sentence. He also said that sentenced issued by the courts will be executed by the government.

Nasheed was found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to 13 years in prison by Criminal Court on 13 March 2015, in relation to the arrest during his presidency, of Judge of Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed.