State raises charges against 13 individuals accused of obstructing police duties during protest

State has raised charges against 13 individuals for obstructing police duties during a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest in Republic Square, on the first of Ramadan last year.

Media Official for the Criminal Court Ahmed Mohamed Manik said today that all 13 individuals are being charged with obstructing police duties.

The protest was staged in Republic Square on the 20th of August last year calling to hold early elections and for the resignation of President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik. The charges were filed in court yesterday, the media official said.

Article 75 of the Police Act states that the penalty for obstruction of police duties allows the court to levy a fine of a maximum of MVR 12,000 or a jail sentence of not more than 6 months, or both a fine of MVR 12,000 and a jail sentence of not more than 6 months.

The protesters gathered to the Republic Square around 5:30 on the 20th of August last year had refused to leave the area, even after the police asked them repeatedly.

The protesters suffered a number of injuries that day after the police and the military had decided to forcibly remove the crowd from the area. The state forces finally succeeded in moving the crowd just about a quarter to Ramadan break fast.

A total of 32 people were arrested during the protest that day, including former Transport Minister Mohamed Adil Saleem. It is not yet clear whether the State has pressed charges against the former minister.