Court schedules hearing on two jailed justices for Thursday

The Criminal Court has scheduled a hearing for Thursday on Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed.

The first preliminary hearing on alleged influencing of official conduct is to be held at 3:00pm.

The state has raised a total of three charges on the justices. Their first preliminary hearing on obstruction charges was held with jailed former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Tuesday. During the hearing, the presiding judge gave 10 days for the three to assign lawyers.

Maumoon, Saeed, and Hameed are also charged with terrorism for which they have been remanded for the rest of their trials; hearings have not yet been begun.

The three were arrested on the night President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency on February 5. Maumoon was arrested at his home while Chief Justice Saeed and Justice Hameed were arrested at the courthouse after police officers broke in through the roof.

President Yameen declared the state of emergency after refusing to implement the Supreme Court order on February 1 to release nine political prisoners and reinstate 12 opposition MPs.

Chief Justice Saeed and Justice Hameed have also been suspended without pay according to Article 24(b) of the Judges Act, which was a recent amendment passed by pro-government MPs in parliament after the justices were arrested.