Former Managing Director of State Trading Organization (STO) has appealed his arrest and six-day remand period at the High Court.

Azim’s lawyer and Deputy Leader of Adhaalath Party, Ali Zahir told RaajjeMV that the case was appealed on Sunday.

He was arrested on Thursday morning, over charges on conspiring to overthrow the government, with the Criminal Court issuing a six-day remand sentence later in the day “as he might tamper with evidence”.

Azim, the younger brother of jailed former Defence Minister Colonel (Rtd.) Mohamed Nazim, is the Minister of Trade at the Maldives United Opposition (MUO)’s shadow cabinet, and has been a huge critic of President Abdulla Yameen’s administration.

In addition to the reform work being carried out by MUO, Azim has been doing a number of work to bring attention to his brother’s case, including submitting the case to various international organizations.

In January, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitary Detention (UNWGAD) called on the Maldivian government to immediately release the former defence minister and “accord him and enforceable right to reparations, in accordance with international law”.

The opposition has condemned Azim’s arrest, with former President and leader of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) noting that he was arrested on “trumped up charges” and called for his immediate release.

Furthermore, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has also called for Azim’s release, highlighting that the opposition had never attempted to stage a coup. He said that the charges and intimidation against political figures were politically motivated and called on the government to cease such activities.