Man arrested for vandalizing ex-pres Yameen’s home released

The young man arrested as a suspect for vandalizing the private residence of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, and the headquarters of his party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) with graffiti has been released.

The messages in black were believed to have been sprayed on near the garage doors and Yameen’s home H.Dhoovehi, PPM office and nearby posters put up by the party, in the early hours of May 12.

Additionally, fliers branding Yameen a thief were thrown on the streets in the area.

Police stated on May 17, that a 20-year-old was arrested in connection to the case, and he was remanded by the Criminal Court for a period of five days.

However, a media official for Police has now stated that he was released under certain conditions and added that the investigation was still ongoing.

The incident comes as Yameen’s supporters use similar tactics in the ‘India Out’ movement, a political campaign led by the opposition to protest against the Indian military presence in Maldives.  

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih issued a decree banning the ‘India Out’ movement on April 24, deeming it a threat to national security.

However, the opposition continued to put up banners and graffiti on the walls of buildings with slogans linked to the movement.

President Solih said in his decree that the ‘India Out’ movement was a deliberate attempt to hinder the longstanding relations between Maldives and India, and international efforts to maintain security in the region and that incitement to hatred against a specific country put Maldives at risk of loss of peace and stability, huge economic and social burden, and isolation in the international arena.