On Tuesday the Criminal Court postponed Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon’s hearings on identity fraud to next week upon the request of his lawyers.

At the beginning of Tuesday’s hearing, Faris’ attorney Ibrahim Shameel noted that they had not been given enough time to prepare for the case since the Correctional Service refused to provide them with a meeting with Faris for that week.

Faris said that he only knew about the hearing earlier that morning but was not told for which of his state charges the hearing was for.

At Tuesday’s hearing Presiding Judge Ibrahim Ali initially scheduled the next hearing for Wednesday and said that he has refused to allow the court to hear all 47 witnesses proposed because it would be difficult to present them all. However, he promised to present the most important witnesses.

Attorney Shameel said that they were not given enough time to choose witnesses and requested that the next hearing be held next week, to which the judge said that he would announce a new date for the next hearing later.

Faris was later informed that the next hearing would be held on June 20.

The state has issued a total of three charges against Faris. He is being charged with identity fraud, bribing lawmakers, and attempting to overthrow the government.