Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has requested that his trial be postponed until lawyer Maumoon Hameed from his legal team returns from a trip abroad.

In a letter addressed to Judge Adam Arif, who is currently in charge of the Criminal Court, President Gayoom said police officers arrested him on February 5 without a court warrant.

Lawyer Maumoon Hameed has travelled to the United States to meet with UN officials to discuss President Gayoom’s illegal arrest and the charges against him.

Since Gayoom’s trial has not begun, both he and his daughter Yumna Maumoon has asked the court to not proceed with any of his case until his lawyer returns.