Christmas Shock: Mass Arrests of Malatian Elites

Malatian police arresting former Trade Minister Angus Baguston outside his home.

Hundreds of Malatian elites, from former military commanders to politicians and businessmen, have been arrested by Malatian security forces last night in a security sweep.

The operations were led by the Foreign Security Bureau (FSB) of the Malatian Intelligence Agency. 

About 150 former military commanders and politicians are currently being detained in the Central Prison in Maltia. The highest ranking former politician arrested is Angus Baguston, the former Trade Minister under Field Marshal Nutyubrick. He and other politicians and former military commanders have been charged with conspiring with foreign powers to threaten the Malatian government.

Another 75 businessmen were detained and placed under house arrest at the 6-star Blitz Hotel at the outskirt of the capital. They have been charged for corruption. 

The mass arrests began at about 11.45 pm last night, after many families had finished celebrating Christmas eve. Several police and army vehicles entered Maltia, the capital city of Malatia, and began forming roadblocks.

​FSB agents, supported by local Malatian police, began raiding houses belonging to the former politicians and military commanders after 1 am.

Director FSB, General Nicola Barrage, said that the detainees will be given a fair trial and will be punished accordingly. 

"We have a good justice system. 99.9% of time we find the defendant guilty, so it will be a quick trial", said General Barrage. 

Regional countries are shocked at the mass arrests, and many analysts believed President Xitin is removing the elites so that he can install his own loyalists.  The majority of the military commanders detained had served under Field Marshal Nutyubrick, the former Head of State of Malatia.

"It is close to Christmas. How could President Xitin launch a mass arrest so close to a festive period", said a Malatian newscaster who requested to remain anonymous. 

The Legonian Embassy has raised concerns about the mass arrests, citing the operations as against human rights.  

President Xitin has not made any comment regarding the mass arrests yet.