Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has expressed concern over the state’s collective prosecution of 12 parliamentarians, and described the trial as being ‘outrageous’.
Maldives’ third and longest serving president said this through a post on his Twitter account, following the Criminal Court’s scheduling of a hearing in the case for Wednesday.
The 12 parliamentarians are to present themselves in court at 15:00, and are facing charges of obstructing law enforcement officers.
Maldives has a political system based on separation of powers. Yet 12 opposition MPs are summoned en masse to Criminal Court. Outrageous!!!
— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) November 29, 2017
The parliamentarians facing allegations of obstruction 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
The parliamentarians had entered parliament premises on July 24th despite security officials having locked down the parliament to bar a sitting, which was previously scheduled, from happening.
The charges in question carry a jail term of four months and 24 days or up to a year.
