Terror trial: Ex-police commissioner Areef’s hearing cancelled

Former police commissioner Ahmed Areef’s court hearing on Monday over terrorism-related charges has been cancelled.

Criminal Court has been scheduling back-to-back preliminary hearings on state officials and politicians charged with conspiring to overthrow the government.

Dhangethi MP Ilham Ahmed’s hearing was to be held at 11am, before the former CP. However, Ilham’s hearing began at 1pm, and so it is likely that Areef’s hearing scheduled for 1pm was cancelled due to the delay.

Newly appointed Criminal Court Judge Ahmed Hailam is presiding over the cases.

At the first preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Areef said he was not clear on the charges and wishes 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.