Criminal Court on Monday has released Dhan'gethi constituency lawmaker Ilham Ahmed who was arrested by authorities upon arrival to Maldives a day before.
Police had earlier sought South-Machchangoalhi MP Abdulla Sinan and Dhangethi MP Ilham Ahmed in connection to the ongoing case into allegations of bribing lawmakers involving deposed ruling party leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's son MP Faris Maumoon.
Criminal Court had ordered Ilham's release after the police produced him in court for a remand hearing.
His lawmaker colleague, Sinan was released earlier on Monday after his remand hearing.
Speaking to reporters after his release, MP Ahmed had echoed similar remarks as Sinan and said that the individuals responsible for the misconduct and misuse of law and Constitution will be brought in front of justice to answer for their crimes.
The duo were among the dozen former government lawmakers disqualified by the country's electoral watchdog over the Supreme Court's anti-defection ruling.
The country's top court however, on Thursday had annulled its ruling and ordered the reinstatement of the dozen lawmakers
The island nation has been plunged into fresh political turmoil after the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the immediate release of jailed political leaders including self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed.
More than three days after the Supreme court ordered the immediate release of as many as nine political prisoners, government has thus far refused to comply.
The court had also annulled its anti-defection ruling and ordered the country's electoral watchdog to re-instate the dozen government lawmakers disqualified over the ruling. The Supreme Court said the anti-defection ruling was issued as a temporary solution to the constitutional dispute case filed by the state but insisted that the relevant authorities have failed to bring to effect an anti-defection law specified in the ruling.
The reinstatement of the 12 lawmakers disqualified by the country's elections commission would mean that the united opposition would now have parliament majority which has the power to impeach the president.
Government meanwhile, confirmed a Supreme Court led move to have incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom arrested.
AG Mohamed Anil flanked by the army and police chief earlier Sunday had said the government has received information that a Supreme Court order to arrest president Yameen was imminent.
However, AG labelled the move as "unconstitutional" and the police and the army would reject any order by the Supreme Court to have the president arrested.
Chief of defence force Major General Ahmed Shiyam said the army would only act in accordance with the laws and constitution, adding that it would follow the legal advice of the attorney general. "The army would not stand by watch while the Maldives goes into a crisis. The army would not obey an unconstitutional order," Shiyam insisted.
Newly appointed police chief Abdulla Nawaz echoed the army chief's statement.
The latest development comes amid accusations that the opposition had bribed some of the judges on the Supreme Court bench to influence the ruling.
