Police confiscate phones amid Faris bribery trial

Mobile phones belonging to family members of a key witness in a bribery trial have been confiscated by police.

The police action follows Ahmed Shafiu’s allegations of a lawmaker attempting to coerce false testimony against MP Faris Maumoon, who is at the centre of the trial.

Shafiu, a Jumhooree Party activist, was arrested a day after the opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against the parliament speaker. The criminal court released him, citing a lack of evidence to support the alleged bribery of lawmakers.

Police summoned Shafiu’s wife and three other members of his family on Tuesday night, using court warrants to seize their phones. The home of a family member was also searched under a separate warrant.