Door closes for Nasheed, Nazim to compete in Presidential Election 2018

The door has closed for former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and former Minister of Defense Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim to compete in the upcoming presidential elections.

The door closed when they lost the last stage of appeal, and Supreme Court ruled to uphold their prison sentences for criminal offenses.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years after he was found guilty of using military officers to unlawfully arrest former chief judge of Criminal Court, Abdulla Mohamed, during his tenure as Maldivian President and Head of Defense Force.

Nasheed lost the appeal at High Court, and Supreme Court ruled on Monday to uphold the sentence.

He is currently in UK and has been granted “political refugee” status there.

Meanwhile, Nazim was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he was found guilty of importing and possessing a firearm.

He also lost the appeal at High Court, and Supreme Court ruled on Sunday to uphold the sentence.

They have lost the opportunity to compete in presidential elections as laws states anyone sentenced to more than one year in prison for a criminal offense can only compete three years after serving the sentence. Or three years after the individual is granted a pardon.

The next presidential election will be held in 2018.