Chief Justice Saeed, Justice Hameed’s hearing on Sunday
The hearing at the Criminal Court at 3pm is the second preliminary hearing regarding charges of influencing official duties
Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed
A court hearing has been scheduled for Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed on Sunday.
The hearing at the Criminal Court at 3pm is the second preliminary hearing regarding charges of influencing official duties.
In the first preliminary hearing on April 12, held behind closed doors, the justices were given five days to assign a lawyer.
The justices, along with former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, are also charged with obstruction of justice and terrorism, for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government.
In the first hearing on the obstruction charges, the justices were given 10 days to assign a lawyer. Hearings on the terrorism charges have not yet begun. All three have been remanded for the rest of their terrorism trial.
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, claiming that it was a plot to overthrow the government.
Pro-government MPs have passed a bill to dismiss justices convicted of a criminal offense. After President Yameen ratified the bill, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) suspended the two justices without pay.
