Ex-Maldives' president Gayoom sentenced to 19 month- jail term

Former Maldives' President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Wednesday was sentenced to nineteen months of imprisonment after being found guilty of "obstructing justice" by not cooperating with the police investigation.

Former Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another Supreme Court judge Justice Ali Hameed were also awarded nineteen months of jail term each.

The trio were arrested on charges of plotting a coup, shortly after a state of emergency was declared on February 5 and following a Supreme Court order to release nine political prisoners, reported the Maldives Independent.

They were handed over imprisonment for failing to hand over their mobile phone to investigators.

Spokesperson of the Joint Opposition Ahmed Mahloof claimed that Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen is deep into sorcery and that the latter has a fascination with the number 13.

"A politically motivated case which was rushed during the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan. The judge was in Umrah in Mecca and he was forcefully brought back to Male," Spokesperson of the Joint Opposition Ahmed Mahloof said.

"On this date, that is, the13th, Yameen, strongly believes in sorcery. He has hired foreigners and Maldivians working for him. Even former president Mohamed Nasheed was sentenced on March 13," he added.

Amnesty International slammed the conviction as "politically motivated" and said the trial did not meet international standards.