Nasheed has been charged at the Hulhumale Magistrate Court under Article 81 of the penal code. If found guilty the offence carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail or exile or a fine not exceeding MVR2,000. If Nasheed is convicted and sentenced to a period of more than one year, he would be barred from contesting in the upcoming Presidential election. During a press conference held at the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) office, Nasheed insisted that he wanted to explain the allegations he faces over Judge Abdulla’s arrest. In that regard the MDP’s presidential candidate said he did not wish to remain labeled as a person who has committed such an offence. However, holding a presidential election after arresting MDP’s presidential candidate would be comical. “Justice must be served for the people. So Insha Allah I will be out to face justice in 2018,” Nasheed said. He reiterated his request made at the High Court to hold off his trial until after the election and urged Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz to facilitate his plea. The ex-President highlighted that the Chief Justice had intervened in matters involving national security and stressed that Faiz must act in the same manner over the charges. Nasheed also revealed that his legal team would appeal the rulings of the High Court and said once his trial resumes at the Hulhumale Court his lawyers would appeal more procedural points at the High Court. High Court on Monday upheld the Hulhumale Court’s decision over the procedural points raised by the defence in Nasheed’s trial. The procedural points taken up by Nasheed’s legal team at the Hulhumale Magistrate Court include the question whether the court can hold a trial in Male, the legitimacy of the court and the arrest warrant issued against Nasheed. Nasheed’s legal team had raised the same procedural points at the High Court. The Supreme Court last December had declared that the Hulhumale Magistrate Court is a legitimate court. The three Judges bench unanimously ruled that the law does not impede the trial being held at a location other than the Hulhumale Court building. In addition, the bench ruled that there were no grounds to declare the lower court summon sent to Nasheed as legitimate. As the procedural point raised over the legitimacy of the Hulhumale Court had been decided by the Supreme Court, the High Court cannot issue a verdict contradictory to the higher court’s ruling, bench declared. The ex-President predicted that his trial would continue after he is elected as president in September and then a decision must be made as stipulated by law. “The law states that a president can be charged after it is passed by the Parliament. But I don’t think it will be done so by the Parliament. Nasheed further alleged that Hulhumale Court had ignored his request to expedite the trial and accused the government of trying to exert undue influence on his trial.