Preliminary hearings against MPs to begin on Tuesday
MPs charged in connection to events of July 24
MPs being removed from Parliament premises on July 24th
Criminal Court has scheduled the preliminary hearings of the cases raised against 12 Members of Parliament 'for breaking Police ranks and entering Parliament premises'.
Several of the Parliamentarians facing trial have confirmed the news to RaajjeMV.
Maduvvari Constituency MP Mohamed Ameeth had confirmed that he had been issued a summon and that Criminal Court was in the process of issuing the rest of the summons. MP Ameeth said all MPs had been ordered to present themselves at 3pm on Tuesday.
All have been charged with obstructing official duties of an officer of law. Charges were raised on August 17th.
The MPs are charged with obstruction for trespassing Parliament grounds on July 24th. All MPs had been summoned to Police for questioning.
MPs facing the charges are:
- Hinnavaru Constituency MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
- Thulusdhoo Constituency MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim
- Dhihdhoo Constituency MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed
- Hithadhoo Central Constituency MP Ibrahim Mohamed Didi
- Hithadhoo North Constituency MP Mohamed Aslam
- Kendhoo Constituency MP Ali Hussain
- Henveyru South Constituency MP Mohamed Abdul Kareem
- Maafannu West Constituency MP Mohamed Falah
- Nolhivaram Constituency MP Hussain Areef
- Maduvvari Constituency MP Mohamed Ameeth
- Vilingili Constituency MP Saud Hussain
- Henveyru North Constituency MP Abdullah Shahid
- MPs Waheed, Saud and Ameeth had also been charged with trespassing Parliament grounds; an act deemed illegal as Elections Commission (EC) had stripped them from their Parliament seats.
The MPs argue that they were Parliamentarians and as such cannot be barred from entering Parliament premises.
After the MPs had entered the Parliament, Police and Army officers had forcibly removed them. This is the first time in the nation’s history that such an incident had occurred. Security forces had also padlocked the Parliament premises.
