He was arrested shortly after the declaration of a state of emergency. According to his spokesman Abdul Alem, Gayum was detained in his residence together with the son-in-law.
He led the country for 30 years until 2008, "the press secretary added..
Recall that in the Maldives on February 4, the military surrounded the parliament building and arrested two opposition deputies against the backdrop of deepening the crisis through the refusal of President Abdullah Yamin to release political prisoners. The incumbent is accused of corruption, abuse of power and violation of human rights.
He denies the accusations. Yamin is threatened with impeachment and the voices of the arrested MPs significantly influence this decision, because together with them the opposition receives a majority of votes.
As reported URA-Inform, today the President of the Maldives Abdullah Yamin declared a state of emergency.