The second preliminary hearing of the case alleging Ibrahim Siyad Qasim, son of Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim, of bribery has been scheduled for 12:00 pm today at the Criminal Court.

Upon the request made by Siyad’s legal team in the first preliminary hearing in the bribery case held on 15th of this month, to provide a reason behind changing the first presiding judge, the current presiding judge Ahmed Hailam has decided not to continue the preliminary hearings prior to clarifying the issue. 

Criminal Court's incharge Ahmed Areef first assigned the bribery case against Siyad to Judge Hussain Shaheed which was later changed to Judge Hailam.

The accusations were made on the basis that police found a black backpack inside jailed former Judicial Administrator Hassan Saeed’s apartment inside which was a letter signed by Siyad in his role as director of his father’s company, Villa.

The prosecutor said the letter contained information which showed that Siyad worked with jailed Justice Ali Hameed’s son Ahmed Misfiru to give USD 2.4 million for three months to three people, as well as that Villa company had made payments to reserve lakefront villas in Malaysia’s Cyberjaya in Justice Hameed and jailed Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed’s childrens’ name.

Siyad was charged on allegations that the financial transactions recorded in the letter was to bribe Chief Justice Saeed and Justice Hameed to order the release of Siyad’s father Qasim Ibrahim on February 1.