Nasheed gets relief in Maldives

In a major relief for former president Mohamed Nasheed, the Maldivian High Court on Monday stayed temporarily the trial against him in an abuse of power case till it decides legitimacy of the bench of the lower court.
The temporary injunction was granted after Nasheed's counsel challenged the legitimacy of the bench, asking the High Court to declare the composition of the Hulhumale Court bench unlawful.
The High Court order comes three days ahead of Nasheed's hearing at the Hulhumale Court over the arrest and subsequent detention of Chief Criminal Judge Abdulla Mohamed during his term, Haveeru daily reported.
The composition of the three Judge bench of the Hulhumale Court by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has been up for much debate recently and is also being probed by the Parliament's Independent Bodies Committee.
Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has maintained that Nasheed's trial is a “politically motivated sham” designed to disqualify him from the upcoming presidential election slated for September 7.