The Male' City Council expresses deep concern over the Government's interference in the independent judiciary, and in this week's sentencing of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Reports of security forces holding the presiding judge in isolation until he heeded to the President's Office demands to switch his verdict to guilty and that at least seven members of the judge's family had been given highly-paid political jobs in the run-up to the sentencing, if proven, will add further credence to claims that the judiciary has been compromised and that the sentencing of President Yameen (for a third time in four years) was a politically-motivated travesty of justice.

We call on the Supreme Court to intervene to ensure that all courts of law remain fully independent from executive duress and that President Yameen receives a speedy and fair appeal hearing to restore his fundamental rights.