Nazim appeals 11-year jail sentence

Former Defense Minister Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim has appealed his 11-year jail sentence with Supreme Court.

Nazim’s defense attorney Husnu Suood confirmed that the sentence was appealed on his behalf on Thursday morning.

Suood said that Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) report submitted to High Court proved that the weapons found in Hibalhidhoo and the items found in Nazim’s apartment were taken by the same people from MNDF weapons cache.

The following points have been appealed:

• The pistol did not belong to an individual, but to MNDF.

• Threatening phone call made to Nazim from abroad.

• Submitting information of person who smuggled the weapon into Nazim’s bedroom as witness

• Violation of rules in obtaining court order.

Suood said that Nazim now knew who smuggled the weapon into his bedroom. And would therefore like to hear his testimony in court. He said that though Supreme Court generally maintained policy of not hearing any new testimony, he was confident they would allow it in

Nazim’s appeal as they had allowed for witness testimony in some appeal cases.

He said that the man who smuggled the weapon into Nazim’s bedroom had not testified at either Criminal Court or High Court during previous trials held on the case.

He said the defense had requested with Supreme Court for the individual be summoned to court.

Suood said that the MNDF report had not been considered when the verdict was issued by High Court. And that the only mention of the report in the summery of the trial had been to state that Ali Ihusaan had not been able to prove that the weapons belonged to MNDF.

He said that it was mentioned in the report itself that it looked like the weapon belonged to MNDF.

Nazim was sentenced to 11-years in jail on March 26, 2015.

High Court upheld the original 11-year sentence by Criminal Court on March 15, 2016.