17-year prison sentence against Muhuthaz to be appealed

Former Prosecutor General (PG) Muhuthaz Muhusin has decided to appeal the 17-year prison sentence that was passed against him last night after being found guilty in an attempt to arrest the President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom with a false court order.

Lawyer of the former PG, Husnu Suood said that the sentence from the Criminal Court last night has room for an appeal.

The former PG was sentenced on the charge of conspiracy to carry out an act of terrorism. No sentence was passed on the other two charges against him which are misuse of official documents and forgery of official documents.

The sentence from the Criminal Court last night is the lightest sentence allowed for the crime under new Anti-Terrorism Law.

At the sentencing hearing last night, Judge Abdul Baree Yousuf said that the false court order found on a motorcycle on Neelofaru Goalhi by the name of Maafushi Court, does not prove to the court that Muhuthaz was involved in the plot. However the witness testimonies prove that Muhuthaz went to Alifu Dhaalu Maamigili and opened the court and was with the Maamigli Magistrate Nihan at the Court laptop and the Computer Forensic Report says that a document that shows the initial work of a court order for the arrest of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Delivering the verdict, the Judge said that evidence and witness testimonies provided by the state prove that Muhutahz attempted to influence the government, create fear among the people and take President Yameen hostage.