Magistrate Nihan’s appeal hearings begin

Hearings to appeal Chief Magistrate of A. Dh. Maamingili Court, Ahmed Nihan’s 17-year prison sentence for using a bogus court order to unlawfully arrest President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom began in High Court this Thursday.

Criminal Court ruled that witness testimony proved Nihan, in the early hours of February 8, 2016, opened Maamingili Magistrate Court in violation of general practice, admitted unauthorized people into the court, and sat by a laptop which belongs to the court with former Prosecutor General, Muhuthaz Muhsin.

The court ruled that computer forensic report submitted by the State proved a document was found on the court laptop which showed attempts to prepare a court order for President Yameen’s arrest.

He was charged and sentenced in reference to Anti-Terrorism Act.

During the appeal hearing in High Court this Thursday, Nihan’s attorney, Husnu Suood threw into question the character of those who testified against Nihan.

Husu Suood said that Nihan was convicted after deciding that he was found guilty of forcibly trying to ‘hide’ someone, but that State prosecution did not submit any evidence which proved

Nihan played any active role trying to forcibly hide someone.

State will be allowed to counter the arguments made by the Nihan during the next hearing.

Despite the conviction, Nihan has not been officially discharged from his position as Chief Magistrate of Maamingili Magistrate Court.

Judicial Services Commission (JSC) will be making its decision after the appeal process is complete.