Hearings in trials of ex-president Gayoom and MP Sinan to begin Tuesday

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in the obstruction trial against former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom for Tuesday at the Criminal Court.

While obstruction charges were raised against Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed along with Gayoom, tomorrow's hearing is in Gayoom's trial alone.

The hearing in Gayoom's trial will focus on documents presented in Gayoom's defense and has been scheduled for 11 a.m.

Said charges were raised against Gayoom for refusing to hand over his mobile phone to the authorities after being brought into police custody.

The prior hearings in the trial were cancelled twice following Gayoom's health deterioration.

Gayoom has been charged with terrorism for allegedly bribing some Members of Parliament as well as justices of courts, for planning a coup against a his half-brother President Yameen's government and for obstruction of justice.

A hearing in the terrorism trial against Member of Parliament for South-Mahchangoalhi constituency Abdulla Sinan has also been scheduled for Tuesday.

The hearing in MP Sinan's trial is set to begin at 01 p.m.

While the last hearing scheduled in Sinan's case was cancelled, the court had not declared a particular reason for the cancellation.

MP Sinan brought to capital city Male' for a court hearing

At a prior preliminary hearing held in Sinan's case, state prosecutor had said that Sinan, who has been remanded for the rest of his trial, has been involved in attemps to overthrow the government within the parliament since 2017.

Sinan is also being charged for his alleged involvement in the Supreme Court ruling issued on the 01st of February to release political prisoners and reinstating opposition MPs. Other charges against Sinan include for allegedly working with former Commissioner of Police Ahmed Areef to create unrest among public by pitting officers of law enforcement against each other.