State charges former Defence Minister and PO Spokesperson of trying to force "reform the constitution" in 2006

State has raised charges against former Defence Minister Ameen Faisal and former Spokesperson at the President’s Office Abbas Adil Riza of trying to orchestrate protests in 2006 to reform the constitution.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has charged former president Mohamed Nasheed’s Defence Minister Ameen Faisal with disobeying authorities and obstructing the duties of state officials. Abbas Adil Riza has been charged with disobeying state authorities.

Charges have also been raised against Ali Abdulla of Seenu Hithadhoo, Ibrahim Sobree of Seenu Hithadhoo, Mohamed Azmee of Orchid Vaadhee, Male’, Abdulla Asrar of Asra Manzil, Male’, Ahmed Mohamed of Gul'hazaaruge, Male’, Ahmed Didi of Seenu Maradhoo and Shahr Al Zaman of Seenu Maradhoo.

Details of the charges state that a letter to Shahr Al Zaman sent by the Maradhoo island office dated 6 November 2006 accuses him and others of planning to travel to the capital Male’ on a boat named Namoona, with the intention of disturbing the peace carrying out illegal activities.

The charges goes on to state that Shahr Al Zaman had confessed during the investigation of collecting MVR 10,000 from the MDP Addu branch for the purposes of the trip from Addu to Male’, in answer to a resolution passed by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

It also states that during their travel to Male’, Namoona boat was warned by the Coast Guard that they will not be allowed to dock in Male’, but that the passengers may alight at any other port. It then says that the former Defence Minister Ameen Faisal had agreed to pay MVR 150,000 to boat captain, who had demanded the money to continue their journey to Male’.

The former PO Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza is also accused to urging the boat captain to defy authorities and continue their travel to the capital. It quotes Abbas Adil Riza of saying, as captured on a video, that their intention of their travel was to attend a "MDP event to reform the constitution on 10 November 2006.”

Media Official at the Criminal Court Ahmed Mohamed Manik said the case was filed on 1 December 2013. The first hearing for the case was scheduled for 10 a.m. today but was cancelled after the court failed to hand over the summons to the persons accused.