Former PG caught lying to parliament

It has been revealed that former Prosecutor General, Aishath Bisham, gave falsified information to the parliament’s judiciary committee regarding the abduction case of journalist Ahmed Rilwan.

Bisham resigned from her post as PG on Thursday morning, amidst an impeachment inquiry against her by the parliament’s judiciary committee due to allegations of allowing the former government to influence the PG Office’s work.

The parliament’s judiciary committee was formed as part of the 19th parliament's efforts to reform the country's judicial system.

PG Bisham was summoned to the parliament’s judiciary committee on July 22 for questioning and it has since been revealed that she gave the committee false information.

A photo of Bisham had gone viral on social media, showing her exiting the President's office during the period of the 45-day state of emergency declared by former President Yameen after the Supreme Court ruling on February 1st, 2018.

When the committee questioned her about her presence at the president's office during that period, she responded that she was most likely there for a National Drug Control Council meeting, where she is a member due to her position as PG, and that she would have no other cause to be at the President Office.

Nevertheless, when the parliament attempted to verify Bisham's statement, the president's office divulged that no records were found of a National Drug Control Council meeting held during that period.

Moreover, when questioned why the PG office did not file an appeal request for the abduction case of journalist Ahmed Rilwan as per the wishes of Rilwan's family, Bisham claimed that that is a misunderstanding and that an appeal request was indeed submitted to the High Court.

However, when the committee requested clarification from the criminal court, the court's registrar is to have responded that it does not have any records of an appeal case or appeal requests related to Rilwan’s abduction case.

As per the criminal justice system of the country, the PG office is an independent institution in charge of ordering investigations, monitoring detentions, lodging appeals and reviewing existing cases. They also have the power to decide whether or not to press charges based on the inquiries completed by investigating agencies.

Bisham was appointed to the post by former President Abdulla Yameen in November 2015 and had faced various allegations during his tenure.

While the former president was convicted of money laundering and sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday, Bisham had sent in her resignation earlier that day. RaajjeMV has since learnt Bisham met with former President Abdulla Yameen’s legal team prior to resignation.