Trial against ex-Pres and SC justices: preliminary hearing in obstruction case scheduled for Tuesday
The three were arrested hours after the declaration of a state of emergency
(L to R) - Justice Ali Hameed, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed
Preliminary hearing in the case against former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and two justices of the Supreme Court is to be held on Tuesday.
The hearing is scheduled for 3pm at the Criminal Court.
The former President, along with Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed, are charged with obstruction. They are also charged with terrorism, bribery and attempting to overthrow the government.
Obstruction charges were raised against the three for refusing to provide investigation officers with the location of their mobile phones, which are suspected ‘to contain evidence of the allegations against them’.
All three were arrested hours after President Abdulla Yameen declared a nation-wide state of emergency, after refusing to implement a Supreme Court ruling issued on the 1st of April, releasing nine high-profile political prisoners and reinstating 12 opposition lawmakers unseated by the Elections Commission. President Yameen has described the ruling as an 'attempted judicial coup'.
