Ex- Maldives President, son to be released on bail

Maldives' former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and his son, Faris Maumoon, will soon be freed on bail as ordered by the Maldives High Court on Sunday.

This comes after the President's lawyers filed a motion to delay his four-month prison sentence for identity fraud, local media reported.

After allegedly misusing the ruling party's flag at an opposition press conference, Faris was sentenced to four months and 24 days and was declared an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience in July, after spending more than a year in imprisonment since his arrest in July 2017.

On September 25, the Maldivian criminal court had freed five political prisoners who were arrested during the period of emergency rule earlier this year. The release came after opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih emerged victorious in Maldivian presidential elections on by beating Abdulla Yameen.

The court released Members of Parliament (MPs) Ilham Ahmed and Abdulla Sinan, police chief Ahmed Areef, former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's son-in-law Mohamed Nadheem and deputy leader of the opposition Jumhooree Party Abdulla Riyaz, according to local media reports.