Maldives former defense minister accused of plotting coup

Maldives police has accused the former Defense Minister Colonel Mohamed Nazim of plotting to overthrow the government and harm senior government officials, local media reported on Wednesday.

A police statement detailed documents found in a pen drive confiscated from Nazim's house during a midnight raid on January 18 suggesting he "was plotting to physically harm senior Maldivian state officials."

"In addition, police intelligence has received information that he was plotting with various parties to overthrow the government," the statement reproduced by local media outlet Minivan News noted.

During the search, police claimed to have found a pistol, bullets and an improvised explosive device.

Nazim was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday on charges of treason and possession of illegal weapons. The Criminal Court has extended his detention for 15 days.

Nazim's legal team insists the former minister is being framed and have implied the firearms found during the raid were planted. Nazim's remand sentence will also be appealed at the High Court by lawyers.

If convicted, Nazim faces a jail term between seven and ten years. The police have forwarded charges to the Prosecutor General 's Office. Endi