Hearing of case against 12 MPs scheduled for Tuesday
Charges of obstruction raised against 12 MPs
MPs outside of Parliament premises, after they had attempted to enter
Criminal Court has scheduled the hearings of the obstruction charges against 12 Members of Parliament for Tuesday.
The hearings are to begin at 3pm.
The lawmakers are charged with obstruction for allegedly having broken police ranks and entering parliament grounds on July 24. Charges were raised against them under clauses 532 (a) and (c) of the Penal Code, on the 17th of August.
If proven guilty, all 12 MPs face a minimum jail term of four months and 24 days, and a maximum of one year.
The first hearing in the case was held on September 26, and the MPs were given 10 days to appoint lawyers. A subsequent hearing was held last week, which was cancelled.
The 12 MPs 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 and Henveyru North Constituency MP Abdullah Shahid.
On July 24, a number of opposition aligned parliamentarians had entered the premises after military officials locked it down. The Parliament lockdown by officers of military was a first in the nation’s history. A vote of no-confidence against parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh was scheduled for that day.
