Criminal Court orders Siyad Qasim’s release

The Criminal Court has on Thursday ordered the release of Ibrahim Siyad Qasim, the detained son of opposition leader Qasim Ibrahim.

Prior to his release, due to the prosecution failing to provide evidence against him, Siyad was remanded until sentencing.

Among nine others, Siyad has been implicated in an alleged ‘conspiracy to overthrow’ incumbent President Abdulla Yameen’s ‘lawfully elected’ government.

Specifically, Siyad is accused of bribery, after documents found in Judicial Administrator Hassan Saeed’s home had allegedly implicated him in unlawful activities. At the hearing held for his case on Thursday, the Criminal Court released him after the prosecution again asked for an extention to the period for providing evidence against him.

The most important piece of evidence against the conglomerate heir is that the Villa Group, founded by his father, had paid for a property in Malaysia bought by Supreme Court chief justice Abdulla Saeed.

The fact that this piece of evidence had not been filed in court was made apparent when Siyad's defence lawyer questioned the prosecution about it and they unable to adequetely address it. The prosecution had then conceded that evidence of Siyad being involved in the aforesaid transaction has not yet been attained.

Presiding Judge Ahmed Hailam had also questioned the prosecution about the matter. When asked if any evidence of the transaction is available in the Maldives, if not from Malaysia, the prosecution had said that they are yet to file it, but that such evidence 'exists'.

The judicial proceedings against him have also been marred with obstruction. Siyad's lawyer, Noorul Salaam, has expressed concern over not being allowed to meet with his client in police custody.

Highlighting that Siyad’s remand order ‘clearly states that he be allowed business meetings,’ Salaam said that the Maldives Correctional Services is violating this as well.