Former Defense Minister Ameen Faisal charged with terrorism over the arbitrary arrest and subsequent detention of incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom by the military during former president Mohamed Nasheed's government Tuesday denied terrorism charges.
President Yameen, who was a parliament member at the time, was arrested on the 14th of June 2010, after allegations were made that he was bribing other lawmakers in an attempt to overthrow Nasheed's government.
The Supreme Court nullified the arrest and ordered his release, to which the police complied. However, upon his release, he was arrested again by the military.
Police had launched an investigation into the incident two months earlier, and Ameen had been summoned and questioned.
Ameen Faisal had denied any role in the arrest and any wrongdoing during his tenure as the Defense Minister.
Faisal's lawyer, Abdulla Haseen denied the charges against his client arguing that the charges were baseless.
If the charges are proven against the former Minister, he faces between 10-15 years in prison.
Faisal's lawyer said that his client is a man suffering from a heart condition and is unable to travel abroad for consultation as his passport has been revoked pending trial.
He asked for the judge to grant permission for Faisal to travel abroad, after presenting the doctor's letter to the judge.
The court will come to a decision regarding the matter after verifying the documents.
Ameen's predecessor Tholhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu had also been convicted and sentenced to prison over the detention of a sitting judge by the military.
Nasheed had also been serving 13 years in prison over the judge's arrest before he was allowed to leave to Britain on medical leave in an internationally brokered deal.