Charges against Nazim has changed

The charges against the former Minister of Defense Colonel-retired Nazim have been changed to importing and possession of a firearm.

At the hearing this evening at the Criminal Court, the prosecution changed the charges against Nazim when his lawyer Maumoon Hameed noted that the chargers contradict the articles in the law.

A total of ten minutes were given to the prosecution to change the charges. After the time limit, the prosecution changed the charges to “importing a firearm into the country.”

The prosecution said that Nazim was charged after finding a pistol and three bullets from a black bag in his night stand while executing a court order to search his residence on the night of the 17 January.

He was charged under article 13-A of the law of illegal imports in reference to article 2-A and article 9 of the same law.

Nazim pleaded not guilty when ask by the court and he said his lawyer Maumoon Hameed would speak for him.

His lawyer said that article 42-A of the constitution assures all individuals to hold trails in open court. And it has been arranged by the government before.

The trail of the terrorist attacks on Maldives on 3 November1988 was held in open court, tells the lawyer, and requests the case of Nazim to be held in open court with access to the public.

In response, Abdul Baaree Yousuf from the judge’s bench said that times have changes. And since journalists come to the cases, the trail would continue in the same location.

Lawyer Maumoon Hameed also said that the evidence collected against the former Defense Minister was acquired illegally and the court order to execute the search in his apartment was also acquired illegally.

And the execution of the court order was outside the law and the High Court says that the Criminal Court can investigate the matter.

The judge said that the High Court ruling indicates that the search warrant cannot be invalidated.

The lawyer also objected to the witnesses who gave testimonials against Nazim being anonymous. And that it’s difficult to prepare a defense since the witnesses are nameless.

The prosecution responded by noting that it was not the first time that the names of the witnesses have been kept anonymous. And the court allows the witness to be kept anonymous.

When the court asked to respond to the accusation, lawyer Maumoon Hameed said that a defense can be presented when he has received all the documents of the case and with an appropriate time frame once the documents are delivered.

The judge said documents that not have been requested to keep confidential will be disclosed. And a period of three days would be given to prepare a defense.