Mahloof asks High Court to expedite his appeal

South Galolhu MP Ahmed Mahloof has requested the High Court to expedite his file for appeal regarding his 6-month prison sentence.

Mahloof’s lawyers sent a letter on his behalf, requesting that the court start appeal hearings and issue its ruling as soon as possible.

His lawyers wrote in the letter that Mahloof wanted the court to expedite his case as he was a representative at the People’s Majlis, and any day he was barred from work would have a negative impact of the rights of his constituents.

Concern over Mahloof’s prison sentence has also raised with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. And included in its agenda for November.

Mahloof was issued prison sentences of six and four months after he was found guilty on two separate charges of obstruction of justice.

He was sentenced to six months in prison after he was found guilty of pushing through police barricades placed on Boduthakurufaanu Magu/Ismail Didi Goalhi on the night of March 25 during widespread opposition protests in Male’.

He was sentenced to four months in prison for refusing to board the police vehicle after a remand hearing on April 3 despite repeated instructions by officers, and attempting to make a run for it.

Mahloof is an outspoken critic of the current Maldivian government after being kicked-off of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), and was chosen as Spokesperson of the Maldives United Opposition.