Tuesday’s hearing in the terror trial against MP Abdulla Sinan has been cancelled.

While the Criminal Court did not disclose a reason for the cancellation, this is the third time the court has scheduled and cancelled a hearing in the case this month.

According to the charges against him, the South-Mahchangoalhi constituency MP is accused of being involved in a plot to overthrow the government through the parliament since 2017, as well as taking bribes and committing acts that are a threat to national security.

In addition, he is also charged with working with former police commissioner Ahmed Areef to create public unrest by pitting police officers against each other.

At the last hearing in the case, the state had submitted 32 pieces of evidences against Sinan. While this includes the testimonies of 16 secret witnesses, some of these have been leaked online.

If found guilty, MP Sinan could face a jail sentence between 17 to 20 years.

MP Sinan is one of the many members of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) that signed the controversial no-confidence motion against parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed back in 2017. After the Maseeh issue arose, Sinan had left the party and joined the opposition coalition in their reform work.

He has been in police custody since February 9, after turning himself over the police, who had launched a manhunt against him. As he was arrested under the state of emergency, he was informed of his allegations 35 days later, on March 17.