MP Faris to appeal remand

The legal team of Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon has said they will appeal his remand period.

MP Faris was arrested and issued 15 days in detention on Saturday, two days following his release after six months in jail.

Speaking to journalists outside the court, lawyer Maumoon Hameed said the state prosecutors requested the court to keep Faris in jail again for the remainder of an investigation and trial that has not even begun.

Hameed said the court warrant for Faris’ arrest and search of his home had stated that it was on allegations of him planning to overthrow the government, but that those allegations had not been raised during the remand hearing.

Faris’ legal team member Hussain Shameem, the former deputy prosecutor general, said that they asked the state repeatedly if Faris was arrested again on previous charges or a completely new one.

The state responded that the arrest was on a new charge over an incident in May of last year, but did not disclose details, said Shameem.

He cited state prosecutors saying that the statement against Faris was given by an anonymous witness who had also filed the complaint.

Shameem added that the same judge had both issued and approved the warrant for Faris’ arrest.