COLOMBO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Maldivian President Abdullah Yameen said on Sunday that detained Vice President Ahmed Adheeb had attempted to impeach him by a no-confidence vote.
In his first address to the nation following an explosion on the president's speed boat on Sept. 28, which was carrying Yameen and his wife, the president said Adheeb had colluded with opposition Maldivian Democratic Party members to file the no-confidence motion against him and he had also tried to seek the support of lawmakers from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives.
Yameen stressed that despite repeated requests, Adheeb and his close associates had not cooperated with an investigation into the blast on the presidential yacht last month, which seriously injured his wife. Yameen escaped the accident unhurt.
The president said he had to arrest his vice president due to his influence over the police which made it impossible for an impartial investigation into the explosion.
The vice president is being detained for the safety and security of the entire population. There are many allegations concerning the vice president, the president said.
Because of his influence over the police, it was deemed that an impartial investigation could not be carried out with the vice president remaining in office.
Yameen further disclosed that materials used for bomb making were found from some of the houses of Adheeb's close associates.
When accusations like this are levelled against a person, he doesn't have the right to remain silent, the president said.
Adheeb was arrested on Saturday upon return from a visit abroad and was taken to the police detention center in Dhoonidhoo. He is being held for charges of treason.
Yameen fired his police chief on Friday after Defence Minister Moosa Ali Jaleel was dismissed last week. However the president said Jaleel was not involved in the blast but was sacked because one his cousins was detained over the explosion.