Prosecutor General's Office has revealed that the Supreme Court verdict on February 1 was premeditated, with the ulterior motive of toppling a lawfully elected government, in order to serve the interests of specific individuals.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the PG Office stated that some individuals from government authorities have overstepped legal limitations, in order to attain a political motive via the Supreme Court verdict.
The PG Office said, it is clear from the preliminary findings of the investigation by Maldives Police Service that the former Commissioner of Police Ahmed Areef brought major changes to the operation of the police force in order to facilitate the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling of February 1.
In the statement, the PG Office noted that the investigation in to the coup attempt revealed serious cases of deep rooted corruption. While suspects in the case has been found to have purchased property from abroad, a letter signed by the Managing Director of Villa Shipping and Trading Company Ibrahim Siyad Qasim on the December 20, 2017, allegedly detailing how those purchases were sponsored, has been found during the investigation carried out by Maldives Police Service.
The statement cited that police have obtained evidence that those charged in connection with the case tried to influence verdicts issued by courts of law. According to the PG Office, police have also attained evidence that the suspects offered bribes to members of parliament as well.