Maldives commutes ex-president’s 13 year term to house arrest

Male, July 24: Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed's 13 years of jail term has been commuted to house arrest, media reported.

Ex-president was sentenced for 13-year prison after he was found guilty of ordering the arrest of a judge while in office.

"The government of the Maldives has permanently moved president Nasheed to house arrest for the balance of his 13- year term in prison", his international lawyer Jared Genser said.

The lawyer's comments came hours after the Maldives government said it would appeal against Nasheed's conviction in March which drew heavy international criticism.

A spokesman for the Maldivian High Commission in Colombo confirmed the changes to Nasheed's sentence, but said he had no further details. "It is correct that the jail term is now commuted to house arrest," Hussain Mazin told AFP.

Nasheed had been incarcerated in a prison on a remote island in the immediate aftermath of the sentencing in March.

OneIndia News (With inputs from agency)