Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has stated that the Criminal Court in the Maldives is deliberately refusing to release its court proceedings to former President Nasheed’s legal team, in order to frustrate their attempts at launching an appeal.
President Nasheed was jailed by the Criminal Court for 13 years on Friday 13 March, ostensibly for ‘terrorism’, relating to the detention of a corrupt criminal court judge in 2012 when Nasheed was president.
In order to file an appeal against his conviction at the High Court, President Nasheed’s lawyers require a signed copy of the court proceedings from the Criminal Court.
Under new rules, rushed in just prior to Nasheed’s trial, the lawyers have just 10 days to file their appeal.
But the Criminal Court has informed the lawyers it will take up to 14 days to release their court proceedings.
Commenting on the situation, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said:
“President Nasheed’s trial is becoming ever more like Alice In Wonderland.
“At every step, the Yameen regime has violated Nasheed’s rights, while the courts break the law and the Constitution with impunity.
“Democracy is dead in the Maldives. In it’s place, we have thuggish authoritarian rule.”