The Criminal Court convened a hearing in the murder trial of Mohamed Anas on Monday, in order to accept testimonies and to review the detention of defendant Junaih Abdulla in the case.

The Court had been unable to take testimonies as no witnesses attended Monday's hearing, and the state had requested another opportunity to present secret testimonies to the court. Judge Mohamed Sameer, who oversaw Monday's trial, had proceeded to review the detention of defendant Junaih Abdulla.

State representatives on Monday had claimed that the status of the seven persons faced with charges relating to Anas' murder remained uncganged, and had requested that their detention be maintained. In response, Lawyer Adam Asif, who represents multiple defendants in this case, had said that defendant Junaih Abdulla had gone abroad to receive medical care with permission from authorities. However, Lawyer Asif noted that doctors had recommended Junaih be allowed to stay in a "dust-free" environment, and that he had not been given proper access to medication. Junaih had been recommended to use an oxygen lenses after he had consulted an ophthalmologist about the condition of his eyes.

After having been given the opportunity to speak, defendant Junaih had also maintained that he had not received adequate access to medical care. He noted that he had asked the Maldives Correctional Service to facilitate a "dust-free" living environment for him as well as prisons could not be considered as such. All defendants facing charges in Anas' murder trial also requested that the trial be concluded as soon as possible.

In addition to this, Lawyer Ahmed Nishan Ibrahim, who represents defendants Ahmed Zayan and Usman Shareef in this case, had said that while the trial had dragged on for four years, his clients were not being issued all the rights afforded to them under the Maldivian constitution. He added that while witness statements had been recorded in this case, a deadline should be set during which the state must present all secret testimonies in relation to Anas' murder. Lawyer Nishan also requested an opportunity to detail the medical conditions of his clients.

In addressing the prosecution and defense, Judge Sameer had said that the state will be given another opportunity to present secret testimonies, adding that a way forward would be determined at the next hearing. Judge Sameer detailed that a hearing would be held on 23 March 2021 at 11AM to collect testimonies, and that two additional hearings would be held in the first and final week of April respectively. Judge Sameer stated that a decision would be made following the hearings on whether to accept more testimonies from the defense.

While concluding Monday's trial, Judge Sameer further said that the defendants in Anas' murder trial had been charged with grave crimes as the case had involved the loss of human life, and issued an order to uphold detention for the defendants charged in this case.