Criminal Court has decided to hold Thursday’s hearing in the case against Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed, behind closed doors.

The preliminary hearing in the influencing official work case against the two justices was held at 3pm.

However, some of the people who went to register as observers for the said hearing notified RaajjeMV that Criminal Court had told them that the hearing has been closed to the general public.

The government has made three allegations against Chief of Justice and Justice Ali Hameed. The first preliminary hearing on the case alleging them for the obstruction of justice was carried out on Tuesday. The same allegation was made against Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom under the same court case. All three were given 10 days to appoint lawyers.

They are also charged with a terrorism. While the hearings on this case has not begun yet, Criminal Court has ordered for them to be kept in jail until the hearings on terrorism case are over.

President Yameen Abdul Abdul Gayyoom declared state of emergency on 5th February, after going against a Supreme Court order released on 1st February. Maumoon, Saeed and Hameed were arrested hours after the state of emergency was declared.

Both Chief of Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed were arrested by military officials and police who barged into the court to arrest them while they were present at the Supreme Court.