Jailed former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had rejected repeated "offers" to be transferred to house arrest, his half brother and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom claimed Thursday.
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.
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 Yameen 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.
Gayoom's family had repeatedly called on the authorities to transfer him to house arrest over concerns of his ill-health.
President Yameen speaking during a ceremony in Haa Dhaal Atoll Hanimadhoo island, however said his half brother had been given "several opportunities" to be transferred to house arrest.
"Even on the very first day if he [Gayoom] had handed over his mobile phone he wouldn't be in prison today," the president said.
He also said that after the conviction there appeared to be "some progress" over the phone incident and Gayoom was offered the chance to be transferred to house arrest which he refused.
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.
