High Court extended the house arrest of Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim and Mulaku MP Abdulla Yamin to 15 days Friday evening.

Police Thursday appealed the Criminal Court order to release the two MPs from police custody to three days house arrest.

Delivering the verdict, High Court judge Adam Mohamed said although police sought 15 days of confinement, the form submitted to the Criminal Court did not specify a place.

While police believed there was risk of witness intimidation if the MPs were released from police custody, the evidences were not convincing, the judge noted.

The judge stressed that the Criminal Court ruling was valid, but noted that it did not mention a reason for the three day house arrest. The 15 days sought by police was “not lengthy” for investigation into the alleged treason and bribery of parliamentarians, the judge added.

The five High Court judges unanimously amended the lower court ruling confining Gasim and Yamin to house arrest from June 30 to July 15.

Aishath Azima Shukoor from the defence expressed dissatisfaction over the ruling and added that her team would appeal in the Supreme Court.

Both Yamin and Gasim denied the arrest charges, telling journalists that the government’s action was politically motivated.

Via Haveeru