Hearing on charges against ex-President Maumoon's employees set for Monday

The Criminal Court has scheduled a hearing in the obstruction of justice charges against two employees of former strongman Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who is detained for his involvement in an alleged coup.

The hearing has been scheduled for 11:00am on Monday. Both defendants had asked to be relieved of incarceration in the last hearing for the case, held on Thursday.

In the last hearing, prosecutors revealed that they are yet to submit a reported 64-page document on a ‘black suitcase’ found in the custody of one of the defendants.

While the suitcase has been described as the most important piece of evidence in the trial, there was speculation in the media and among opposition supporters that the 64-page document is an ‘invention of the government intended to fuel a baseless case’.

“Critical evidence and information crucial to the investigation has been recovered from a black suitcase which was removed from Endherimaage (Gayoom’s home) and also obtained documentary evidence from the recently found suitcase that Ahmed Faris Maumoon attempted to influence the Judiciary” the police said previously.

Lawyers representing the defendants had said in court on Thursday that they have not received copies of witness testimonies against the defendants, and prosecutors had agreed to provide them after removing the identities of witnesses testifying under condition of anonymity.

Former president Gayoom’s personal secretary Najma Ibrahim and security guard Mohamed Azmee were arrested for reportedly being involved in an alleged ‘conspiracy to overthrow the government’ that Gayoom is accused of being one of the leaders of.

The aforesaid black suitcase was found in the possession of Najma. Her employer, former president Gayoom, is facing allegations of terrorism, bribery, obstruction of justice, and other charges. Police claim Gayoom’s son, parliamentarian Faris Maumoon, had masterminded the alleged coup.