High Court on Tuesday backed the lower court's ruling to remand opposition Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim.
The business magnate, who was arrested over allegations of attempting to bribe fellow lawmakers and making incitements to overthrow the government, had been remanded by the criminal court for 15 days.
Gasim had however appealed the remand, claiming that the remand extension was in violation of the parliamentary privileges and immunity act as it must be filed by the Prosecutor General.
Hisaan Hussain, member of Gasim's legal team told reporters that the appellate court had not found any grounds to overturn the lower court's ruling.
The High Court had said the parliamentary privileges and immunity act would only apply to the initial arrest warrant, Hisaan explained.
"But we will appeal at the Supreme Court," she added.
Gasim was first arrested on April 6 over the bribery allegations made ahead of the censure motion against parliament’s speaker Abdulla Maseeh; however, the high court freed him days later after ruling that he was arrested in violence of due procedure.
He was arrested after the criminal court issued an arrest warrant, on direct request of the police.
However, according to parliament rules of procedure, unless from a scene of a crime, a lawmaker can only be arrested under a warrant from a superior court on direct request from the chief prosecutor.
Gasim is currently in remand in Dhoonidhoo island.
The opposition coalition, which now JP is a part of, has claimed that the government is descending into autocracy and has been heavily critical of its “crackdown” on the opposition.
