US Ambassador to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap has stated that Court verdicts, issued in absentia, erases any pretense of judicial impartiality.
He made the statement in connection to the Criminal Court’s verdict on Maamigili Constituency MP Qasim Ibrahim. In the tweet, he noted that MP Qasim was an elected representative and was ill at the time of sentencing. It also noted the verdict was delivered in absentia and therefore, erases any pretense of judicial impartiality.
A 1:30am court verdict jailing an ill, elected #Maldives #Majlis MP - sentenced in absentia - erases any pretense of judicial impartiality.
— Atul Keshap (@USAmbKeshap) August 25, 2017
MP Qasim was sentenced for attempted bribery of his fellow Parliamentarians, for three years, two months and 12 days. The same verdict had also decreed that MP Qasim must be sent abroad for his medical treatment. His passport, confiscated back in July, was released on Friday.
If the apex courts uphold the verdict, then MP Qasim will lose his Parliamentary seat.
