Saturday
30th Nov 2024
Dhivehi Edition
President Abdullah Yameen has shared previously undisclosed details of the events of February 1, 2018.
He made the disclosure in a press conference held Thursday evening, where he was interviewed by press for over three hours.
Dhiyares questioned the former President on the events stemming from the Court order issued on February 1, 2018. While his answer was in-depth, most of the content was previously undisclosed to public.
On February 1, 2018, Supreme Court issued an order to release political figures jailed for various crimes. The order had ordered their release without reviewing the charges or specifying the illegality of the sentences, and had ordered security services to release the jailed persons.
Due to this order, then Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed and Supreme Court Justice Ali Hameed were arrested and removed from their positions. The state raised charges against them and some were proven. However, the charges were thrown out of court once the administration changed.
Hints of an order become apparent
President Yameen said that when it was apparent that Supreme Court was about to issue such an order, the then-Chief of Defense Force and then-Vice Chief of Defense Force had tried to have a meeting with the Justices. However, the Justices had denied to meet the duo.
“When we got the news, that such an order was imminent, the then-Chief of Defense Force and then-Vice Chief of Defense Force of MNDF had tried to meet the Supreme Court Justices. The two kept circling the Supreme Court building. But every time [they called] Abdullah Saeed would say they were busy but will give some time. They finally gave up,” President Yameen said.
President Yameen said that he knew the ruling would be issued sometime in the evening. The then-Attorney General Mohamed Anil had gone to Supreme Court on some matter that day. The Former AG had nothing to report based on the discussions he had with the Justices, he added.
“When we got the news, that such an order was imminent, the then-Chief of Defense Force and then-Vice Chief of Defense Force of MNDF had tried to meet the Supreme Court Justices. The two kept circling the Supreme Court building. But every time [they called] Abdullah Saeed would say they were busy but will give some time. They finally gave up,” President Yameen said.
President Yameen said that he knew the ruling would be issued sometime in the evening. The then-Attorney General Mohamed Anil had gone to Supreme Court on some matter that day. The Former AG had nothing to report based on the discussions he had with the Justices, he added.
Police team selected to implement order
President Yameen said the verdict was issued late in the evening. A select group of Maldives Police Service (MPS) was already prepared, ready to implement the court order. The-then Commissioner of Police Mohamed Areef, he said, was well aware of the order and was ready to implement. The team to implement the order was made up of officers loyal to the Commissioner. All who supported President and/or would potentially object to implementing it had been excluded from the team and shipped off to Police training island of Vaanee.
“They had done everything to implement the order, taken up a Special Task Forces squad,” he said.
President Yameen said that he personally called Commissioner Areef and questioned him about the order. Areef had denied all knowledge, while the order itself was on his table, the former President said. Areef had refused to take President Yameen’s calls later on.
Then President Yameen called Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner confirmed the existence of the order, adding that the heads of security services had discussed and agreed on implementing the order. President Yameen asked the DCP whether he or anyone else sought advice from either the Attorney General or Home Minister. The DCP had reported that no such advice was sought. When he gave that response, President Yameen cited that the order cannot be implemented. At this, President Yameen said he was clear that Police had participated in a constitutional coup.
“They had done everything to implement the order, taken up a Special Task Forces squad,” he said.
President Yameen said that he personally called Commissioner Areef and questioned him about the order. Areef had denied all knowledge, while the order itself was on his table, the former President said. Areef had refused to take President Yameen’s calls later on.
Then President Yameen called Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner confirmed the existence of the order, adding that the heads of security services had discussed and agreed on implementing the order. President Yameen asked the DCP whether he or anyone else sought advice from either the Attorney General or Home Minister. The DCP had reported that no such advice was sought. When he gave that response, President Yameen cited that the order cannot be implemented. At this, President Yameen said he was clear that Police had participated in a constitutional coup.
Went of Defense HQ to control situation
Following this call, President Yameen then placed a call to his Defense Minister Adam Shareef Umar and requested his presence at the MNDF HQ. At the HQ, AG Anil, President’s Office Legal Affairs Minister Azima Shakoor, Chief of Defense, Vice Chief of Defense and Prosecutor General Aishath Bisham were present. These individuals had recommended that the order be implemented.
However, as the order had stated that none of the Justices would be accountable for the order, President Yameen had argued against the recommendation. The lawyers had concurred, then.
“I told them why this order was unconstitutional. This order says that no Justice can be summoned to any investigative body over this order. So this order is not just for the release of any arrested individual. Any release must follow the judicial procedures and processes. A hearing must be held. State’s Prosecutor General had no clue on the order. It’s not something that the Supreme Court Justices can do on their own. The clause lifting accountability on their actions is nullifying the JSC,” he added.
The order, he said, was an instruction issued on security services, without considering the laws, processes, and procedures that Police and MNDF must adhere to. He said the order was on security services was a boon for the country, but a bane on the Supreme Court justices.
He then met up with MNDF Generals, and briefed them on the matter. The generals, he said, noted the unconstitutionality of the order and foreign interference on the mater, adding that they would not allow the order to be implemented.
President Yameen then instructed the Minister at President’s Office to dismiss Commissioner of Police from his position. The Commissioner, however, had remained in his chambers, under the guise of clearing his table until 10am the next day. Nawaz was then appointed as acting CP then.
However, as the order had stated that none of the Justices would be accountable for the order, President Yameen had argued against the recommendation. The lawyers had concurred, then.
“I told them why this order was unconstitutional. This order says that no Justice can be summoned to any investigative body over this order. So this order is not just for the release of any arrested individual. Any release must follow the judicial procedures and processes. A hearing must be held. State’s Prosecutor General had no clue on the order. It’s not something that the Supreme Court Justices can do on their own. The clause lifting accountability on their actions is nullifying the JSC,” he added.
The order, he said, was an instruction issued on security services, without considering the laws, processes, and procedures that Police and MNDF must adhere to. He said the order was on security services was a boon for the country, but a bane on the Supreme Court justices.
He then met up with MNDF Generals, and briefed them on the matter. The generals, he said, noted the unconstitutionality of the order and foreign interference on the mater, adding that they would not allow the order to be implemented.
President Yameen then instructed the Minister at President’s Office to dismiss Commissioner of Police from his position. The Commissioner, however, had remained in his chambers, under the guise of clearing his table until 10am the next day. Nawaz was then appointed as acting CP then.
Justices dismayed over Defense forces decision
Chief of Defense and acting CP Nawaz had held a press conference that day, reporting their refusal to implement the order. The Justices, then, had panicked that their well laid out judicial coup with their allies in tow, would not go down as smoothly.
They had gotten the warning that while Police would participate, MNDF were in no mood to take part in the coup.
President Yameen said he had attempted to contact Justices for two days, all to no avail. He said he was able to talk to Chief Justice after AG Anil placed a call on his personal line. At that point, he said that Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed had lost the Supreme Court control, and had attempted to gain majority by securing another Justice for their cause.
They had gotten the warning that while Police would participate, MNDF were in no mood to take part in the coup.
President Yameen said he had attempted to contact Justices for two days, all to no avail. He said he was able to talk to Chief Justice after AG Anil placed a call on his personal line. At that point, he said that Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed had lost the Supreme Court control, and had attempted to gain majority by securing another Justice for their cause.
Two Justices’ were not arrested over order
President Yameen said that Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed were not arrested for their role in the order. He said the duo were arrested, after an investigation into the matter brought up several more worrying issues. The investigation, he said, brought to light what pressures the two Justices were up against.
The investigation revealed that Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim’s Villa Group had pledged to pay rent on the apartments owned by Justice Abdullah Saeed and Ali Hameed in Hulhumale’, in the event they default on payments. With this revelation the investigation took a turn toward Justices accepting bribes.
He went on to add that he was forced to declare state of emergency, as laws barred summoning any Justice to an investigative body without Judge’s Council voting on the issue. Even after laws were suspended, the Justices had refused to answer Police summons, which, he said, then led to the arrest of the Justices.
“This is not the Vatican, is it? This is not a separate city within Italy, is it?” he asked of the journalist present at the press.
The investigation revealed that Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim’s Villa Group had pledged to pay rent on the apartments owned by Justice Abdullah Saeed and Ali Hameed in Hulhumale’, in the event they default on payments. With this revelation the investigation took a turn toward Justices accepting bribes.
He went on to add that he was forced to declare state of emergency, as laws barred summoning any Justice to an investigative body without Judge’s Council voting on the issue. Even after laws were suspended, the Justices had refused to answer Police summons, which, he said, then led to the arrest of the Justices.
“This is not the Vatican, is it? This is not a separate city within Italy, is it?” he asked of the journalist present at the press.
India was ready for boots on ground
After the two Justices were arrested, then Chief of Defense Force and former Defense Minister had met with the rest of the Supreme Court. President Yameen said that another individual had also met with the remaining Justices. This individual, the President said, had attempted to convince the Justices that President Yameen’s administration had no support and that military personnel were distraught about the situation.
President Yameen added that the Justices were informed that if the court order was implemented and individuals like former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and Colonel Nazim were released, then tides would change. The release, they were told, would bring in supporters of those individuals as well as members of PPM.
President Yameen added that the Justices were briefed that in the event the situation got violent, Indian assistance was close by and ready to intervene. He said that an Indian naval ship was in the region and definitely would have invaded if the situation had gotten worse.
President Yameen added that the Justices were informed that if the court order was implemented and individuals like former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and Colonel Nazim were released, then tides would change. The release, they were told, would bring in supporters of those individuals as well as members of PPM.
President Yameen added that the Justices were briefed that in the event the situation got violent, Indian assistance was close by and ready to intervene. He said that an Indian naval ship was in the region and definitely would have invaded if the situation had gotten worse.