Home Minister Sheikh Imran Abdulla has been advised by the Prison Audit Commission to take necessary actions against the institutions who refused to obey the February 1st ruling by the Supreme Court, which ordered the release of political prisoners under the regime of former President Abdulla Yameen.

The audit report by the commission noted that any and all Supreme Court rulings should be obeyed. However, Maldives Police Service and Maldives Correctional Services had refused to enforce the ruling completely. The report added that the refusal was illegal and a punishable offence.

The report noted that each day that the prisoners who were ordered to be released by the Supreme Court, spent behind bars count as illegal detention. It added that the Attorney General, Inspector of Correctional Services and Human Rights Commission along with the Integrity Commission had done nothing to ensure the rights of said prisoners. The rights of these nine prisoners were violated illegally.

The Supreme Court of the Maldives had unanimously ruled that Former President Mohamed Nasheed, MP Qasim Ibrahim, Imran Abdulla and Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb should be released immediately along with other political prisoners.

However, several institutions refused to enforce the verdict and a State of Emergency was declared subsequently on February 5. Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed were arrested during the time and charged with corruption.