Maldives Vice-President Ahmed Adeeb arrested on charges of high treason over plot to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen
The attack on the president’s speedboat occurred as he was about to disembark at the capital island Male after returning from a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Maldivian authorities yesterday arrested the nation’s Vice-President Ahmed Adeeb over an alleged plot to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen, who escaped death after his boat was hit by a bomb last month, the home minister said.
“VP Adheeb under arrest and held in Dhoonidhoo Detention [prison island],” Umar Naseer said on Twitter, using a different spelling of the vice president’s name. “Charges: high treason.”
Adeeb, 33, was arrested at the Maldives’ main international airport at around noon local time yesterday as he returned home from Singapore.
Maldivian police confirmed his detention was linked to the investigation into the September 28 blast aboard Yameen’s speed boat.
“Vice president Ahmed Adeeb has been arrested under a court warrant for the investigation into the explosion aboard the presidential speedboat,” Maldivian police said on Twitter and an official website.
Yameen appointed Adeeb as his deputy three months ago after impeaching his original running mate Mohamed Jameel on charges of treason.
The attack on the president’s speedboat occurred as he was about to disembark at the capital island Male after returning from a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.