Request to cancel Mahloof's case was due to administrative issues: PG office
The High court decided that Mahloof's case was improperly dismissed
Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof
The hearing regarding allegations on Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof, accused of receiving embezzled money in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) case, has been cancelled.
The hearing that had been scheduled by the Criminal court has been cancelled yet again.
Speaking on the matter to RaajjeMV, public prosecutor Ahmed Shafeeu stated, Mahloof's case had been requested to be cancelled due to administrative issues.
He said the prosecution had asked the court to adjourn the hearings till September 10 for administrative reasons.
When contacted for a comment, Mahloof said he had submitted a complaint to the prosecutor's office regarding the errors committed in the investigation and various cases.
Within this case there is a case of a Sri Lankan citizen whose statement was taken in violation of Sri Lankan laws and the Sri Lankan authorities are investigating the case.
The Foreign Ministry is also investigating the case, he said, adding that the Maldivian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka was present when the criminal investigation was conducted through Zoom.
Minister Mahloof alleges that political influence has been involved in the case since the beginning. Mahloof said he had previously decided to resign once the prosecutor's office made a decision. However, Mahloof said he would reconsider resigning even if he was sentenced.
Mahloof also said the President would decide on the matter as the President has the power to remove him from office.
The Criminal Court ruled that Mahloof's case could not be conducted under civil standards and dismissed the case in March.
The case was dismissed after the prosecution determined that the evidence presented in the case was not strong enough to continue the prosecution.
Judge Mohammed Misbah presided over the case at the Criminal Court.
The Prosecutor General's Office appealed the Criminal Court's verdict in the High Court in March.
The High Court ruled that Mahloof's case was not properly dismissed.
The High Court bench comprising Chief Justice Hatif Hilmy, Justice Fathimath Farheeza and Justice Ali Sameer, presided over the case.
