MP Faris' identity fraud trial extended after Monday's hearing
A date for the next hearing in Faris's identity fraud trial was not finalized
MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon
Dhiggaru MP Faris Faris Maumoon's trial on the identity fraud charge has yet again been extended after the court failed to hear the summary statements on Monday.
The state pressed the charge against Faris for allegedly using the ruling party's flag and logo in a press conference without permission.
At Monday's hearing, the presiding judge had declared that the summary statement in the case will be heard. However, Faris' representative Ibrahim Shameel said he wished to discuss the documentary evidence in his defense before the summary statement was heard.
He requested the court to look into the recording of the debate during the parliament election hosted by Television Maldives (TVM) showing Ahmed Shiyam, who had run for Naifaru constituency, representing the ruling party.
Furthermore, details of 27 pieces of evidence presented in Faris’s defense were discussed in Monday’s hearing.
The state was also asked to respond to the summary statements given by the defense in regards to the past verdicts issued by the High Court and Supreme Court. In response, the state prosecutors said that it will take them two days to respond to the defense's summary statement.
Moreover, Faris had sworn that the testimonies against him were fabricated, by noting some statements that do not add up.
This is the third hearing that had been scheduled as the final one in Faris’s identify fraud trial, with the previous two having been delayed due to lack of time given to Faris.
In the last hearing, the presiding judge had said that the next one, on Monday, would be for the summary hearing. However, the state has again delayed the summary statement after saying that they will need time to respond to Faris' legal team. The presiding judge concluded Monday’s hearing after saying that the next hearing will hear the summary statements. However, the judge did not specify a date.
While the identity fraud charge has been pressed against Faris for the unauthorized use of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives' logo and flag, he was the leading figure to bring the party into existence as well as registering the party at the Elections Commission.
