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'Shocking' staff arrests beyond Gayoom's comprehension

Deposed ruling party leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Thursday described the arrest of three of his staff as 'incredible and shocking'.

A day after Gayoom's lawmakers son Faris Maumoon was taken into custody, police late Wednesday searched the houses of his staff and arrested three over allegations of terrorism.

The trio which included a woman who works at the former president's office were arrested shortly after police searched their houses in the capital Male. The woman who is nursing a baby was later transferred to house arrest.

Police have accused the three of attempting to bribe lawmakers and a terrorism plot to overthrow the government.

"Incredible & shocking: a woman employee of my office nursing a 9-month old baby and a private security person were arrested by police last night on terrorism related charges," Gayoom lamented on Twitter.

"Beyond comprehension!"

Police have launched a crackdown on Gayoom and had tried to search his apartment on Saturday. The attempted search came hours after police arrested Gayoom's lawmaker son over allegations of plotting to overthrow the government.

Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon was taken into custody less than a day after he was released from remand. Gayoom's eldest son had been in pre-trial detention after being charged with attempting to bribe fellow lawmakers to back an opposition led move to unseat the parliament speaker last year.