Two men detained over ‘coup plot’ released without charges

Two men detained on Wednesday in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the government have been released without charges.

Ibrahim Shahiban Ahmed and Mohamed Shamin Ali, who work for various environmental NGOs, were detained during a raid of the building that houses the Maldives Independent.

Shahiban said that the police arrived at their work-cum-residential apartment at Henveiru Hulhugali around 4.15 pm. The personnel included a team from the specialist operations and forensics departments.

A warrant they carried authorised a search of the premises for evidence of a plot “to overthrow the elected government, get external help to overthrow the elected government, try to create hatred between the public and the state institutions, and plan to create discord and unrest in Malé.”