Members of the Progressive Coalition have meet with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih regarding the issue of the detention of former President and current leader of PPM, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The Progressive Coalition consists of members of two opposition parties - the People’s National Congress (PNC) and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

While the meeting took place at the President’s Office this afternoon, the Progressive Coalition have yet to reveal more information on the matter at this time. The MP for Fonadhoo constituency and interim Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Abdul Raheem Abdulla has however spoken to certain news sources regarding the meeting. MP Abdul Raheem has said that the information regarding the meeting will be revealed later.

He has also said that members of the Progressive Coalition communicated what they had wanted with President Solih, under very peaceful conditions.

Members of the Progressive Coalition that attended the meeting include interim leader of PPM and Parliamentary Group leader Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, interim Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Abdul Raheem Abdulla. Additional members include Vice President of PPM Mohamed Saeed, PNC Council member Adam Shareef and MP for Mid-Maafannu constituency Asma Rasheed. The MP for Maafannu-South constituency Abdulla Rifau as well as the MP for Naifaru constituency Ahmed Shiyam was also in attendance.

President Yameen had been taken into Police custody and transferred to Maafushi prison on 18 February 2019 straight from the court after a Criminal Court hearing.

The Prosecutor General’s office had initially asked the Criminal Court to issue an arrest for the President Yameen regarding an investigation into corruption at Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). The Criminal Court had then ordered the detention of President Yameen until court trial against the former President on charges of money laundering at MMPRC is concluded.