In leaked audio, defence minister vows to seek charges against lawmakers
During a meeting with officers from the Special Protection Group, Shareef praised the restraint of soldiers in the face of protesting MPs, saying he would have broken a lawmaker’s jaw.
02 Aug 2017, 9:00 AM
A secret recording of Defence Minister Adam Shareef Umar vowing to seek charges against opposition lawmakers during a meeting with soldiers was leaked online Wednesday morning.
The meeting appears to have taken place after the military security personnel clashed with protesting MPs and shielded the embattled speaker during Monday’s brief and raucous sitting of parliament.
“The [Maldives National Defence Force] leadership discussed among ourselves today and decided to submit to the Maldives Police Service and treat it as a crime. I am sure that this case will be registered with the police by tomorrow morning,” Shareef is heard telling soldiers from the elite Special Protection Group.
The defence minister said he consulted with the Attorney General and Prosecutor General’s offices and was told that “the best way forward would be to investigate it through the police and press criminal charges.”
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