Lawyers of jailed former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and his lawmaker son Faris Maumoon has urged the country's first appellate court to release the duo on bail.
The 80 year old Gayoom along with two top court judges were convicted of obstruction of justice and sentenced to one year seven months and six days in prison last month.
His son and Dhiggaru lawmaker was sentenced to four months and 24 days after the criminal court convicted him of impersonation for using the ruling party logo and flag during a press conference last year after he was expelled from the party.
In separate letters to the chief High Court judge, their lawyer Maumoon Hameed said the duo had been convicted in violation of the constitution and criminal procedure code. As the duo had appealed their legal convictions, Hameed had urged the High court to release them both on bail until their appeals can be heard.
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.
Gayoom, along with Chief Justice Saeed and top court judge Ali Hameed who had been arrested under the state of emergency had been charged with obstruction of justice over their refusal to handover their mobile phone to the police.
In addition to the prison sentence, the judge had also revoked their licenses to deliver religious sermons, provide legal expertise and practice law.
The trio are also on trial for terrorism after being accused in the alleged plot to overthrow the government.
The two top court judges facing four separate charges had convicted of abuse of power to influence lower court judges and sentenced to one year, six months and one day in prison.
The prison sentence came on top of the four months and 24 days given to chief justice Saeed who was also convicted of impeding the functioning of the state after he was found guilty of blocking the receipt of the letters sent by the president following the landmark Supreme Court order.
The two top court judges along with now jailed chief judicial administrator Hassan Saeed are also facing bribery charges.
Prosecutors have also formally charged four opposition lawmakers over the alleged coup plot.
Gayoom's lawmaker son Faris Maumoon, Jumhoory Party (JP) deputy leader Abdulla Riyaz, Dhangethi lawmaker Ilham Ahmed and South-Machchangoalhi lawmaker Abdulla Sinan have all been charged with terrorism for conspiring to overthrow the government. All four lawmakers have also been remanded until the trial ends.
In addition, former police chief Ahmed Areef has also been charged and remanded until sentencing.
