Largest opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has expressed their concern and praised former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's lawmaker son; Ahmed Faris Maumoon.
Faris Maumoon was convicted of misusing Progressive Party of Maldives' (PPM) banners and logo; without the party's consent for which Criminal Court judge Ibrahim Ali sentenced him to jail for four months and 24 days.
MDP alleges Prosecutor General's office had influenced with the state pressed prosecution on the Dhiggaru MP.
"State is prosecuting Faris Maumoon on trumped up charges for a non-existential scenario simply because he [Faris Maumoon] refused to support president Abdulla Yameen's government," MDP's statement read.
The prime opposition party claimed state-level misconduct as such would waver the trust of local judiciary in front of Maldives public as well as the international communities.
MDP urged from government to release former president Gayoom's son and cease the discriminatory treatment towards the lawmaker.
The leading opposition party had also praised Faris Maumoon's undeterred resolve and courage in the face of injustice.
Gayoom eldest son had been remanded after being arrested under the state of emergency accused of a plot to overthrow the government following the Supreme Court order on February 1.
The lawmaker is also on trial charged with bribing fellow lawmakers to back an opposition led no-confidence motion against parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh.
Faris has been at the forefront of the ongoing government crackdown on the opposition after he spearheaded a move to unseat the parliament speaker last year. Former president Gayoom's eldest son had spent six months in pre-trial detention after he was charged with bribing fellow lawmakers to back the opposition led censure motion against the speaker.
The MP however was released before the Supreme Court's order on February 1 to release nine political opponents that had included the lawmaker moments before his uncle declared a state of emergency.
Less than two days after he was released, police again took him into custody accusing him of plotting to overthrow the government.
Faris joins in father and former strongman Gayoom in prison who has also been charged with terrorism over the alleged coup plot but the trial is currently underway.
However, Gayoom along with two top court judges have been convicted of obstruction justice and sentenced to one year seven months and six days in prison.
The island nation has been embroiled in fresh political turmoil after the Supreme Court on February 1 ordered the immediate release of jailed political leaders including self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed.
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on February 5 had declared state of emergency after his last ditch attempt to convince the top court to revoke the order failed, purged the Supreme Court by arresting two judges and the remaining political leaders and ultimately had the order revoked.
The 80 year old Gayoom, along with Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and top court judge Ali Hameed who had been arrested under the state of emergency have been charged with obstruction of justice over their refusal to handover their mobile phone to the police.
