Mayor Muizzu briefly arrested from opposition protest

Male Mayor Dr Mohamed Muizzu was arrested and later released from a protest organised by the PM-PNC coalition Tuesday evening demanding the release of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The opposition has been staging protests every night in Male demanding the release of Yameen, who was convicted of money laundering and bribery and sentenced to 11 years in prison. Opposition spokesperson Heena Waleed and party secretary general Ahmed Tholal messaged the media that Muizzu has been arrested during Tuesday night’s protest.

Heena said three people have been arrested so far in connection with the protest.

In a video sent by Heena to the opposition's media briefing group, the mayor, who is also the party's vice-president, can be seen being taken away by two policemen as he was leading the protest. In the video the Mayor obliges and walks without showing any hesitation towards the police vehicle. Later, the police are seen talking to Muizzu.

Police said the mayor was later released.

This is the first time the mayor has been detained by police in connection with the series of protests by the opposition in the capital. 

The opposition's ongoing protests have led to arrests of people every night. So far, all but two have been released without being taken to court for remand. The two detained are in custody for allegedly assaulting a policeman during the protest. 

Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined $5 million by the Criminal Court last month after finding that it was not a transaction to exchange dollars as he had said in the trial. Thus: