MP Faris arrested

Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon has been arrested by police under court order.

Sun Online’s reporter at Faris' residence - Ma. Snow Rose in Male' City - confirmed Faris was arrested and taken away police a short time ago.

Police had been operating at Faris’ residence since this Tuesday morning, armed with both a search warrant and arrest warrant for investigation into suspected bribery of parliamentarians in connection with the petition for no-confidence motion against Speaker of People’s Majlis, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed.

Faris' attorney, Maumoon Hameed reported to press that Faris was being taken to Dhoonidhoo Prison, and that police confiscated some items from the apartment as evidence - including a pendrive and some documents.

Maumoon Hameed commented that Faris being arrested instead of a certain parliamentarian who has publicly confessed to involvement in bribery showed the government's interpretation of legal fairness.

Police, in an earlier press conference claimed they had evidence Faris bribed fellow parliamentarians.

Faris has also been charged with identity theft. A charge which he pled “not guilty” to during the preliminary hearing held last Monday.

He is one of the key leaders of the opposition. The recent petition for a no-confidence motion on Maseeh came as a blow to the government after nine parliamentarians from ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) sided with the opposition in signing the petition.