Ex-Maldives leader's 13-year term commuted to house arrest

Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed has had his 13-year prison sentence commuted to a term under house arrest, his international lawyer said today.
"The government of the Maldives has permanently moved president Nasheed to house arrest for the balance of his 13- year term in prison", Jared Genser told reporters here.
The lawyer's comments came hours after the Maldives government said it would appeal against Nasheed's conviction in March which drew heavy international criticism.
A spokesman for the Maldivian High Commision in Colombo confirmed the changes to Nasheed's sentence, but said he had no further details.
"It is correct that the jail term is now commuted to house arrest," Hussain Mazin told AFP.

Nasheed had been incarcerated in a prison on a remote island in the immediate aftermath of the sentencing in March.