Opposition aligned MP Abdulla Riyaz had been detained at the police headquarters for over four hours, while police searched his mobile phone and home.

Police searched his home, a house called ‘Nectar’ in Maafannu ward of capital city Malé, at around 9:30 pm on Thursday. Officers had not confiscated anything, but the parliamentarian said his phone was kept at the headquarters.

“I believe President Abdulla Yameen strongly thinks that my phone has a lot of information he needs, if it brings him any happiness, I am glad to have handed it over” Riyaz said.

Riyaz further condemned the Criminal Court’s sentence against MP Qasim Ibrahim and commended the public support for the Jumhooree Party leader.

Riyaz was kept at the headquarters and searched with a warrant signed by Criminal Court judge Adam Arif.

The warrant said that officers are investigating a case involving inducing violence against the state, and public discord.