Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom claims the Supreme Court order to release political prisoners cannot be implemented.
President Yameen said the court order cites the release of convicted criminals and individuals with ongoing criminal investigations and court trials, which could in turn open doors for several convicts sentenced under Maldives Penal Code.
The Maldives head of state believed the Supreme Court's move could open cracks for serious offenders such as child molesters and murder convicts to once again delay their sentences upon getting released - based on such release orders.
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 Prosecutor General (PG) had submitted its concerns to the Supreme Court on Saturday separately on each case citing "legal and judicial" precedents.
The Supreme Court however had rejected the concerns saying that there were no legal or judicial reasons that would prevent the relevant authorities from implementing the order.
"As referred to in the order, there is nothing preventing the prosecutor general from seeking a re-trial after the order has been implemented," the statement had read
President Yameen in three separate letters to chief justice Abdulla Saeed said the Supreme Court had failed to provide a solution to the concerns raised by the chief prosecutor which he said sets several dangerous legal precedents.
In the first letter which was read out by the legal affairs minister Azima Shakoor on state television, president Yameen argued that the court order if implemented threatens the entire justice system, the constitution and sets dangerous legal precedents for other convicted offenders.
"So in light of the said concerns, I believe that the order to release the jailed prisoners cannot be enforced in accordance with the constitution, the judicial process," president said asking the chief justice to re-consider the PG's concerns.
In the second letter, president Yameen pointed out that the order which prevented the appointment of Judges or Chief Judge to any court without a written approval of the Supreme Court, clearly violates the constitutional mandate of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
"So I ask you to revoke that order which clearly violates and hinders the constitutional mandate of the JSC," the second letter read.
President Yameen has also asked the Supreme Court to rescind its order which revoked a warrant to arrest the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) chief Hassan Saeed over bribery allegations.
The president said the order obstructs law enforcement authorities from carrying out an investigation into a serious allegation and asked the chief justice to rescind the order.
