No advice given on a court to hold Nasheed's trial: Supreme Court
In addition to Nasheed and Tholhath, former Chief of Defence Force Moosa Ali Jaleel, Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Didi and Colonel Mohamed Ziyad is also being prosecuted according to PG’s office. Supreme Court denied suggesting any courts to hold Nasheed’s trial despite media reports indicating that the Supreme Court had suggested Prosecutor General (PG) to assign Nasheed’s case to Hulhumale Magistrate Court due to potential conflict of interest as the case involved the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court. The Supreme Court further stated that it is within the PG’s jurisdiction and responsibility to file criminal cases in courts. However, during a case involving Judge Abdulla Mohamed alleged with adultery had been sent to Hulhumale Court, according to the PG’s office, on advice of the Supreme Court as the witnesses in the case had been the other Judges of the Criminal Court which at the time had also been cited as having potential conflict of interest. Supreme Court however denied any discussions with the PG’s office regarding the assigning of a court to hold Nasheed’s trial. Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) is currently trying to hold former President Mohamed Nasheed's trial charged with the arrest and subsequent detention of Chief Criminal Judge Abdulla Mohamed at the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) hall. All five are being charged under Article 81 of the Maldives penal code, which is detainment of a person not found guilty by a court of law using the authority afforded to a State employee. The penalty if found guilty is a prison sentence of no more than three years or banishment or a fine of no more than MVR2,000. Despite pressures from both international and local parties and a direct order by the Supreme Court for his immediate release, Judge Abdulla had been detained in a military training facility at Kaafu Atoll Girifushi for 22 days, until finally being released on February 7 following the downfall of Nasheed’s government.
Fetched On
Last Updated
Last Updated