State presents evidence against Moosa Ali Jaleel

State has presented evidence against Defense Minister Major General Moosa Ali Jaleel, when he dined the terrorism charge against him following arrest of Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed against law.

State has presented evidence to prove three things in the hearing held on Saturday evening. They are to prove that decision was made to arrest Judge Abdulla, an operation and a discussion was held to arrest Judge Abdulla and that Judge Abdulla was arrested.

Witnesses to prove that the former Head of Defense Mohamed Nasheed had decided to arrest Judge Abdulla include former Commissioner of Police Ahmed Faseeh, former Deputy Commissioner of Police Ismail Athif, former Vice Chief of Defense Force Farhath Shaheer, First Lieutenant of MNDF Ali Ihsan, Colonel Vice Waheed, Colonel Abdul Raheem Adul Latheef and former Brigadier General Ahmed Nilam.

Apart from witnesses, recording of the address of President Nasheed at the gathering of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) at Raalhugan’du area and recording of the speech of President Nasheed in the meeting held with police officers on 18 January 2012 were also presented as evidence.

To prove that discussion and operation were held to arrest Judge Abdulla, state presented Lieutenant Colonel of MNDF Ali Shahid and Warrant Officer Aishath Zeena as witnesses. Daily report of “Operation Liberty”; operation held to arrest Judge Abdulla was also presented as evidence.

M.Linkhouse Aminath Shareef, Mahumoodha Shareef and Sobira was presented as witnesses to prove that Judge Abdulla was forcefully taken to Kaafu Girifushi. State has also requested to summon Judge Abdulla to court.

Plan of operation Liberty, the order of Supreme Court to release Judge Abdulla and video footage that captured Judge Abdulla being arrested was also presented as evidence at the hearing.

Moosa Ali Jaleel has denied the charge and presented Lieutenant Colonel Nasrulla Ibrahim Majdhee, Lieutenant Colonel Ali Shahid, Major Abdul Salaam, Colonel Mohamed Ibrahim and former Commissioner of Police Faseeh as witnesses.

After presenting evidence, Lawyer of Jaleel Adam Asif requested to conclude the trial soon.

Jaleel has said that neither he was ordered by a superior nor he had ordered his subordinates to arrest or keep anyone under supervision of Defense Force.

“I did not arrest Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed” said Jaleel.

His lawyer Adam Asif said that Jaleel had not discussed with anyone to arrest Judge Abdulla and had not participated in any discussion held of that regard.

Asif said that in a meeting Jaleel had participated as the post he was serving then, it was told that threat to National Defense existed due to Judge Abdulla and that Moosa Ali Jaleel had suggested to take appropriate action against Judge Abdulla in accordance with the Constitution.

Asif told that Moosa Ali Jaleel had said to Tholhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu, the Defense Minister then, that Judge Abdulla cannot be arrested by disrespecting courts and houses.

Lawyer of Moosa Ali Jaleel noted that Tholhath, while he was in the tea room of MNDF had said that Judge Abdulla was at the Court at that moment and he would be in Girifushi within next 30 minutes.

After concluding the hearing held on Saturday, Judge Abdulla Didi, who led the judges’ bench said that statements from the witnesses presented by the state will be taken at next hearing.