Yameen's attorneys say 'hopeful' of legal remedy over candidacy

Jailed opposition leader Abdulla Yameen will receive the necessary legal remedies and be released before the deadline for submitting candidacy forms for the upcoming presidential election, his lawyers said on Sunday.

Attorneys for former President Yameen travelled to Maafushi jail where he is serving his sentence, but was not allowed to meet as they refused prison officers to search the documents they had with them.

Returning to Male, Yameen's lead attorney Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed said he had full confidence in the Supreme Court and the High Court despite the government's influence. He said hoped that Yameen will get a legal remedy, he said.

Jameel said:

"I believe there is time. The Maldivian justice system has already provided remedies for these types of cases," he said.

In addition to Jameel, Yameen's lawyer Abdulla Shiyaz told reporters that the deadline for contesting the presidential election has not yet expired.

"There is a deadline for contesting the presidential election. It is not delayed, and it has not been closed. So, there is a deadline and I believe that remedy will be available before that deadline," Shiyaz said. 

Supreme Court on Sunday rejected a constitutional motion filed by opposition PPM-PNC seeking to ensure the electoral rights of jailed opposition leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Nominations for the September 9 presidential election are being accepted from 9am Sunday to 2pm on August 7 from the election headquarters at Dharubaaruge.

The opposition PPM-PNC has handed over their presidential ticket to Yameen.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have called on the authorities to postpone the presidential election slated for September 9 until a decision is taken on the candidacy of their jailed leader, former president Abdulla Yameen.