MP Mahloof to be given verdict over tweet in next hearing

The Criminal Court on Wednesday concluded the hearings regarding the state’s false reporting charge against South-Galolhu MP Ahmed Mahloof.

At Wednesday’s hearing, MP Mahloof read out the summary statement by himself, since his trial has been proceeding without legal representation.

Mahloof has also been ordered to be under house arrest for the rest of his trial.

Mahloof was charged for a tweet he made on January 20 in which he accused authorities of killing detainees through negligence. In the tweet, he said that authorities are killing detainees by denying them necessary medical treatment, highlighting the fact that 10 detainees died in prison within a year.

“Commissioner Shiyan and DOP Salman must take responsibility. I don’t know how many times I’ve made this complaint while I was in prison” Mahloof said in the tweet.

If found guilty, Mahloof will face four months and 24 days in prison.

According to statistics, five detainees died in various jails in Maldives last year, while six died in 2016. The State did not conduct an investigation into their deaths.

While families of prisoners have also been expressing concern over the lack of protection and medical treatment provided in prisons, the institutions and organizations tasked with protecting the rights of citizens have remained silent.