Witnesses in Colonel Nazim

High Court has decided to summon the defense witnesses and some of the witnesses from the prosecutor to the appeal hearing of Colonel-retired Mohamed Nazim who was has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Three hearings in the case were held today. The first two hearings were conducted in open court while the third was held behind closed doors.

Colonel Nazim’s lawyer, Husnu Suood said that if the witnesses are in the city, the court has decided to summon them to the hearing tomorrow.

“Witnesses from the prosecutors and witnesses from Nazim that was requested at the Criminal Court but wasn’t summoned, the court has decided to summon them as well.” Husnu Suood said.

The closed hearing today was related to the secret document that was presented by the state. Nazim’s lawyer said that a decision has not yet been made as to whether it would enter into evidence. The state presented some detailed information regarding the secret document as well at the hearing today.

Both sides had a lot to say at the two open hearings today. Husnu Suood said that equality in presenting evidence was absent in the trail at the Criminal Court.

And so while a number of evidence was presented by the prosecution, the Judges decided not to present a number of evidence presented by Nazim. While the defense said that the search at the former Defence Minister’s residence was conducted outside regulations, it is proven since there is no video of the search.

Husnu Suood said that the search warrant was acquired based on a false accusation. Responding to the points made by the defense, the prosecutor said that they have already responded to the concerns raised by the defense.

The prosecution requested the court to rule against Nazim convicting him of importing a firearm based on the evidence presented at the Criminal Court.

Requesting Ruling under the new Penal Code

The defense requested that Nazim be sentenced under the new penal code noting that it would reduce his sentence to one year in prison.

But the prosecution said that Nazim was sentenced before the new penal code came into effect and so does not believe that his can be sentenced under the new penal code.

The former Defense Minister, Colonel-retired Nazim was sentenced to 11 years in prison after the police testified in court that a handgun was found in his residence.