Terror trial: Ex-CP Areef given two days to assign lawyers

Former police commissioner Ahmed Areef has been given two days to assign lawyers for his trial on terrorism related charges.

At his first preliminary hearing at the Criminal Court on Wednesday, Areef said that he was not clear on the charges and wants to proceed with a lawyer.

Presiding judge Ahmed Hailam noted that the court is aware Areef already has a legal team of six lawyers. To which Areef said that he has been in jail and so does not know where his lawyers are.

Judge Hailam said that the court had contacted two lawyers in his legal team, that had told the court that they are no longer involved in Areef’s case. Therefore, Areef can no longer assign these two lawyers to his case, said Judge Hailam. The judge said that the court was unable to contact the rest of his legal team.

Areef is charged with conspiring to overthrow the government since 2017 while in his position as police commissioner. Areef is alleged to have used certain officers to confront other officers on February 1 when Supreme Court issued the order to release political prisoners and reseat dismissed opposition MPs. He is also alleged to have endangered national security and peace as well as influencing the government.