State unable to raise charges against Shafiu, alleged mediator in bribe for MP Faris
MP Faris was detained on July 18th on bribery allegations, with the Court ruling to keep him in detention for the duration of investigation and trial
MP Faris was detained on July 18th over bribery allegations
The Prosecutor General's Office says that it does not have the sufficient evidence to raise charges against Ahmed Shafiu, despite alleging that he had acted as a mediator for Dhiggaru constituency MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon, who is being tried on bribery.
At the hearing held on Sunday morning, the Criminal Court continued deliberations on the 23 pre-trial motions submitted by the defence. While the Court had previously deliberated on nine of the motions, it continued deliberation from motions 10 to 15 on Sunday.
Fari's lawyer Maumoon Hameed argued that the Court was violating the Criminal Procedure Act by going ahead with the trial, emphasizing that charges were levied against Faris after 69 days in police custody.
The Criminal Procedure Act states the PG Office has a 30-day period to press charges against suspects and commence hearings following their arrest, while is has 45 days to conclude the cases of the suspects released from custody.
However, prosecutors argued that the Office had submitted the case within the 30-day period, to which the defence replied that submitting something to court is not the same as raising charges.
Hameed further noted that no charges have been raised against Ahmed Shafiu, despite the state accusing him of acting as the mediator in the alleged bribery.
Responding to Hameed, prosecutors said that they did not have the sufficient evidence to press charges against Shafiu. However, Hameed highlighted that according to the statement submitted by the state- by a parliament member who was allegedly bribed by MP Faris- Shafiu is the individual who took the money to the said member, revealing that it was from Faris.
Hameed further noted that the state's failure to raise charges against Shafiu means that it has no grounds to raise charges his client as well.
The next hearing in the case is set for November 7th.
MP Faris was detained on July 18th on the charges. Criminal Court on July 19th decreed that MP Faris should be kept in detention for the duration of investigation and trial of the bribery charges.
