Court schedules hearing on identity fraud charges against MP Faris for Tuesday
The hearing is set for 01:30pm
MP Faris Maumoon escorted by correctional service officers
The Criminal Court has scheduled a hearing in the state’s identity fraud allegations against MP Faris Maumoon for Tuesday.
The hearing is set for 01:40pm. The last hearing to be scheduled in the proceedings for the case was in March, but the hearing had been cancelled.
In the last hearing held for the case, prosecutors had presented testimonies from witnesses. MP Faris is to select which one of the 47 witnesses he has brought forth in his defence will testify in court.
The state has put forth an anonymous witness, documentation stating that he had been removed from the party, and video footage of the press conference as evidence against the parliamentarian.
Faris is accused of using the Progressive Party of Maldives’ flag and logo at a press conference with fellow members of the Joint Opposition, after he had been removed from the party’s registry.
One faction of the ruling party is loyal to its founder and longstanding leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a former president and now an opposition leader, while the other is loyal to incumbent President Abdulla Yameen. A Civil Court ruling had officially given authority of the party's offices to President Yameen.
