Diplomat held in Malaysia for bid on life of Maldivian President

Accused was nabbed at a condominium along with four other Maldivians

Kuala Lumpur

: Malaysian police on Friday said they have arrested a Maldivian diplomat in connection with the attempted assassination of Maldives President Abdulla Yameen last month.

The 47-year-old investment counsellor was nabbed by a team of Malaysia's Special Branch's Counter-Terrorism Division operatives at a condominium on Thursday.

Four other Maldivians, two men and two women, were also apprehended. Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the man was suspected to be involved with the assassination plot, involving a bomb which was set off on board a speedboat carrying Yameen near Male on September 28.

"The suspect is a 47-year-old Maldivian man, who is also the country's investment counsellor," the police chief said. Khalid said the suspects were arrested under the Immigration Act, and were deported to the Maldives on Friday for further action by the country's authorities.

In the attack, Yameen was unhurt, while his wife and two aides sustained minor injuries from the blast.