Lawyers: Maumoon, Nadheem, Faris have not been questioned yet

Neither former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, his son – Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon, nor his son-in-law Mohamed Nadheem have been questioned by the police, say their attorneys.

Maumoon, Faris and Nadheem have been arrested on charges of attempting to illegally overthrow the country’s legitimate government.

Maldives Police Service said in the press conference it organized last Tuesday that those detained for investigation into the coup attempt were being uncooperative. The Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police Ahmed Shifan – who delivered the update on the police investigation – did not name any names.

Speaking at a press conference by Maumoon, Faris and Nadheem’s attorneys last Tuesday night, attorney Hussain Shameem said neither Maumoon, Faris nor Nadheem have been questioned by the police so far. He said there was therefore, no grounds to claim they were being uncooperative.

“The allegation they are uncooperative with the police is outright false. They haven’t even been given the chance to be cooperative,” said Shameem.

Shameem questioned what the police considered cooperation. He asked if the police considered confessing to the charges as cooperation.

The police say they confiscated a black box from Najma Ibrahim’s residence, which contains document evidence pertinent to the case.

Najma is an employee at Maumoon’s office.

Shameem challenged the police’s claim, alleging the authority found no such black box from Najma’s residence.

He said the attorneys have not been provided papers regarding a black box seized as evidence from Najma’s residence.

“If they found any evidence from the box, then it was planted there by the police. Because the records provided by the police don’t show they found anything from any box,” said Shameem.

The attorneys said Maumoon wanted to convey his message to the people that he will not stop his reform work.