Court to announce verdict on Qasim remand
Case scheduled for 1.30pm on Tuesday
Jumhooree Party Leader and Maamigili Constituency Parliamentarian Qasim Ibrahim
High Court on Tuesday will announce a verdict on the arrest of Jumhooree Party Leader and Maamigili Constituency Parliamentarian Qasim Ibrahim.
In the last appeal hearings held on Sunday, contested the remand of 15 days set by Criminal Court. Court on that day had said a date for the next hearings will be announced later.
The arrest warrant issued by Criminal Court Judge stated that Qasim had been attempting to sway Parliamentarian’s vote on the no confidence motions against Parliament Speaker, especially after the laws were changed so that no confidence motions can only be submitted if they have signatures of 42 MPs. The warrant also stated that Qasim had attempted to influence armed forces, Judges and create dissent among public.
Speaking to press after the hearings on Sunday, Qasim’s lawyer, Hisaan Hussain stated that they had raised four points as their defense. She noted that it was unacceptable that the Judge who had issued the arrest warrant was on the bench and had to make a decision on the validity of the warrant.
Hisaan stressed that it was not the PG Office that had requested for an extension to Qasim’s remand, but rather on request of Police. This, she said, was remarked by state lawyers as well.
“The remand hearings were held against the procedures set in the law, in secrecy. Then the Prosecutor General, in his remarks, himself noted that it was Maldives Police Service that had submitted the form to Criminal Court, requesting to extend Qasim’s remand. No documents were filed by Prosecutor General to Criminal Court, it was just a verbal request,” she said.
Normal procedures dictate that any requests regarding court warrants and remand extensions must be done through a written request. It also common procedure for a Judge to recuse himself from the appeal hearings if he had issued the warrant.
Qasim was previously arrested and given a six-day remand. High Court had then released him stating that he was arrested in violation of the Privileges Act. He was released and subsequently arrested on the 20th and set a remand of 15 days.
