Adeeb, Fayaz given more time to hire lawyers in Hibalhidhoo case

Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor and former Head of MNDF weapons cache’ Ahmed Fayaz Ali Riza have been given more time to hire legal representation to defend against charges pressed against them in the case of weapons found from B. Hibalhidhoo.

Information officer of Criminal Court, Ahmed Mohamed Manik reported this Tuesday that Adeeb and Fayaz had been given more time to hire lawyers as both their lawyers stepped down on November 6.

A hearing in the case was scheduled for this Tuesday morning at 10 am, but was cancelled as both the defendants did not have legal representation.

Adeeb’s lawyers – Moosa Siraj and Ibrahim Shiyam, and Fayaz’s lawyers – Mahfooz Saeed and Hassan Sofwan issued a joint press statement to announce they were stepping down.

The statement read that they were forced to step down as the actions of Criminal Court deterred them from doing a proper job doing defensive work for their clients.

“We have decided to step down from this case as, while it’s the right of every defendant to be allowed sufficient time and resources – a component of a fair trial – we will not be allowed to do our jobs as lawyers if the trial proceeds without that opportunity,” read the statement.

The lawyers said the judge gone back on the decision announced by him during the first hearing, that any additional hearing would be held after Adeeb and Fayaz receive all the legal documents pertaining to the case, and are allowed 15 days to do research.

They said an additional hearing was scheduled before they received the documents, saying that testimony of two witnesses needed to be heard before they left for abroad.

The lawyers said they received all the documents on October 31, but the court had informed them that hearings in the case was scheduled for each day, between November 6 to 10.

Adeeb and Fayaz are both serving sentences at Maafushi Prison.

Lawyers said they had sent a letter to Criminal Court asking that the hearings be scheduled more conveniently, as it did not allow enough time for them to meet with their clients and prepare their defense.

They said the judge had refused the request, and said arrangements would be made for them to meet their clients in court, but in the presence of court and prison officers.

The lawyers said such an arrangement was not acceptable for them to carry out their work.