Former Maldives defence minister accused of plotting coup

Police in Maldives today charged the island nation's former defence minister with plotting to overthrow the government and "physically harm" senior administrative officials, a day after he was arrested.
A police statement detailed documents found in a pen drive confiscated from Mohamed Nazim's house during a midnight raid on January 18 suggesting he "was plotting to physically harm senior Maldivian state officials".
During the search, police also claimed to have found a pistol, bullets and an improvised explosive device, Minivan News reported.
Nazim was sent to 15 days of remand detention after being arrested early yesterday.
"Police intelligence has received information that he (Nazim) was plotting with various parties to overthrow the government," the police statement said.

Former former defence minister Nazim's legal team has appealed the Criminal Court's remand sentence at the High Court today. Nazim and his wife's passports have been confiscated.
Speaking at a press conference last night, Nazim's lawyers had alleged that their client was being framed, implying the firearms found during a raid on his home were planted.
If convicted, Nazim faces a jail term between seven and 10 years. The police have forwarded the charges to the chief prosecutor.