The Supreme Court has completed the presentation of statements by all witnesses proposed by Jumhooree Party (JP) in court, in the case filed by the party requesting to annul the results of the first round of the presidential election.
Statements were presented by five witnesses at today’s hearing.
Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain said that out of the witnesses proposed by JP, statements were presented by those who could be present for the hearing held in Supreme Court today.
When the presentation of the witness statements was completed, vice presidential candidate of JP Dr Hassan Saeed said that JP no longer wants the court to hear the remaining witness statements.
Today’s first witness said that he was told by a chief official at a ballot box, that an individual was allowed to vote twice.
The second witness said that he stood on the voting queue for one and a half hours, and was told by the officials at the ballot station upon showing his identity card, that according to their computer system, he had already cast his vote.
He complained and was asked by the officials of the Elections Commission to wait, and was allowed to vote about 40 minutes later, said the second witness.
The third witness said that he was told by an official of the Elections Commission that an individual was told that he can only vote in the second round of the presidential election. When asked by Hussain Siraj, lawyer representing the Elections Commission, whether he saw the identity card of the minor (below 18) who allegedly cast a vote, the witness said that he had not seen the minor’s identity card.
The fourth witness also said that a minor was allowed to vote on 7 September. When asked by Dr Hassan Saeed how he came to know of this, the witness said that he was told by the minor himself, and that the ink mark was also evident on the minor’s finger.
In response to a question posed by a lawyer representing the Elections Commission, the witness said that he has a copy of the individual’s identity card, and that he was born on 25 March 1996.
The fifth witness said that he was told by the officials at the ballot station that he had already voted, but was allowed to vote when he complained.
JP also presented two documents as evidence in court today.
Presenting one of the documents, Dr Hassan Saeed said that Elections Commission was advised to recount a ballot box in Shaviyani Narudhoo, after receiving complaints that several invalid votes were cast into the box, but the officials of the commission decided that a recount was not necessary.
Dr Hassan Saeed also presented an official document submitted by the police to the Elections Commission, detailing the extent to which the commission sought assistance from the police.
Upon completion of the presentation of the witness statements, Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain said that the court had decided to hear statements by three witnesses proposed by the Elections Commission, including a statement by the director general of the Department of National Registration.
Concluding today’s session, Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain announced that a hearing on this case will also be held tomorrow.