Criminal Court has said that Member of Parliament (MP) Mohamed Rasheed and Addu City Councillor Ahmed Mirzad were not present for the trial of the case on the arson attacks in Addu City on 8 February 2012, as the official chit to summon them to Court could not be delivered.
Media Official of Criminal Court Ahmed Mohamed Manik said today that out of the 40 people charged with arson, 32 were present at the trial today.
Manik said that most of those who were absent were people to whom the official chits could not be delivered, due to them being out of the country for work.
MP Rasheed was out of the country on a trip related to the Parliament, while Mirzad’s family would not accept the official chit because they had no information on his whereabouts.
Manik assured that they will be presented in Court through the normal procedure, and said that action will be taken, if necessary, in order to present them in Court.
The trials for the 32 people are being held separately at Criminal Court today, with about three people allowed in the 12ft by 13ft Court room at a time.