Imprisoned Supreme Court justices tried unfairly, they must be released: Nasheed
The Criminal Court in May sentenced the apex court justices to nearly five months in prison
Former Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed (r) and former Justice Ali Hameed
Former Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and former Justice Ali Hameed were tried unfairly and they must be released, says former president Mohamed Nasheed.
Nasheed said this while speaking at a rally in Meedhoo island of Addu City, Justice Saeed’s native island, and called on judicial authorities to facilitate their release.
The Criminal Court in May sentenced the apex court justices to nearly five months in prison, on charges of obstructing government administration and justice.
The justices were arrested in February, along with former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – whom Nasheed defeated through ballots in 2008 – during the political crisis that ensued after the Supreme Court ordered the release of political prisoners.
While the prisoners were ordered to be released on the grounds of violations of due process during their trials, the former president and justices were accused of conspiring to overthrow the government.
They were arrested and initially tried for terrorism but sentenced for not providing police with access to their mobile phones.
After the arrests of their colleagues, the remaining members of the apex court bench nullified the ruling.
