MP Faris Maumoon to appeal court decision to remand him until sentencing
His lawyer Maumoon Hameed said that the parliamentarian is also being detained in violation of prison and anti-torture laws
MP Faris Maumoon waves to the press after his remand hearing on Wednesday, 19th July
The Criminal Court’s decision to detain MP Faris Maumoon until his trial is concluded will be appealed on Sunday, his legal team has said.
Maumoon Hameed, a prominent lawyer and a relative of Faris’ and incumbent President Abdulla Yameen, said that the parliamentarian is also being detained in violation of prison and anti-torture laws. In an interview with RaajjeMV he said that there are various procedural discrepancies in his arrest as well.
He noted how prosecutors had put forth secret evidence during the remand hearing on Wednesday, and thus it is impossible for Faris to tamper with it even if he was to be shifted to house arrest. Therefore, the court’s decision to detain him until trial is concluded is absolutely unnecessary, the lawyer said.
“There is absolutely no way Ahmed Faris Maumoon can tamper with evidence or alter witness testimonies that are secret or anonymous, only the police know the sources of these evidences and testimonies. Ahmed Faris Maumoon has absolutely no way of altering any of it” Maumoon Hameed has said.
Maumoon Hameed further said that the parliamentarian was detained in violation of the parliamentary privilege laws, which in its 202nd article states that sitting MPs cannot be tried while a motion of no-confidence is awaiting vote.
