Govt witness reverses claim, says MP Faris did not offer him bribe

The state witness in MP Faris’ case has reversed his claim and testified that the MP has never offered him any bribe.

The state witness, also an MP, said this in a secret testimony via an audio conference at the court hearing on Monday.

He was summoned to the hearing to testify against Faris, but the state witness has denied that Faris had bribed him through an intermediary named Shafiu to get him to sign an impeachment motion against the pro-government Speaker last year.

The state witness said that he signed the motion out of respect for opposition leader and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (Faris’ father), but withdrew his support due to the objections of fellow ruling party MPs.

He said that Faris did not give him anything after signing the motion, and that he hasn’t met Faris since. He repeatedly told the court that he did not ask for, nor receive any bribe from Faris or his father. He said he falsely accused Faris after Faris threatened to leak the photo of him signing the impeachment motion. He added that he also falsely accused Shafiu of being an intermediary because Shafiu had been criticizing him on social media.

In the courtroom, Faris’ legal team declined from questioning the state witness, saying that his testimony has confirmed that no bribe took place. They also noted that the charges against him have been held up so far by the state witness’ admission during the police investigation, and that the trial cannot go forward since he has revoked his claim. However, the judge has decided to move forward with the trial.

The judge has also denied the prosecution from presenting evidence against Faris at Monday’s hearing. One was a piece of paper from Faris’ house, the other was testimony from alleged intermediary Shafiu.

Faris was earlier jailed for more than five months without a trial over the bribery allegations. He is now in police custody for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.