Two days before Nasheed's return, Maldives SC suspends ex-Prez's jail term

Mohamed Nasheed and many other political opponents were jailed by outgoing President Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration after trials criticised for a lack of due process

The Maldives Supreme Court has suspended a 13-year jail sentence given to the country's exiled former president until it reviews his conviction as requested by the prosecutor general. 

The Supreme Court ordered on Tuesday that the government, police and prison authorities adhere to the suspension of the sentence for the former president Mohamed Nasheed.   

The order comes two days before Nasheed is to return to the Maldives after living in exile for more than two years, and appears to be a move by the incoming government to prevent his arrest on arrival.  
 

Nasheed and many other political opponents were jailed by outgoing President Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration after trials criticised for a lack of due process.  

Nasheed's party candidate defeated Yameen in the Sept. 28 presidential election.