If the case had been filed to a Military Court, I would have attended in MNDF uniform: Ibrahim Didi

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Southern Area Commander, Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Didi has said that if the State had filed the case pertaining to the arrest of Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed to a Military Court, he would not have resigned and would have attended the trial in uniform.

Ibrahim Didi resigned yesterday, shortly after the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office filed a case against him to Hulhumalé Court.

Ibrahim Didi has served MNDF for 32 years.

In an interview Sun Online today, Ibrahim Didi said that he did not wish to be seen in a civilian Court in MNDF uniform, thus submitted his resignation.

“I suppose the case involves me, otherwise the PG wouldn’t have filed the case against me. So I want to take off the uniform I’ve worn for 32 years, and attend Court in civilian attire,” Ibrahim Didi said.

He said that it should not be too difficult to establish a Military Court to prosecute such cases.

Ibrahim Didi said that in spite of the fact that he was the Malé Area Commander when Judge Abdullah was arrested, he does not understand the basis of the claims made against him.

When asked if he participated in the arrest in any way, he replied that at this stage, he did not wish to make any statement to the media in relation to this matter.

He stressed that had been committed in his services to the nation in the past, and that he will refrain from politics and continue to do the same in the future.

“Nobody is perfect. Nobody is capable of doing everything right. Criticism can be negative, but it can also be constructive. There are problems with laws which we create ourselves. I believe that everybody makes mistakes. So I don’t wish to comment on anything,” he said.

He said that he was not affected by having to resign, and noted that MNDF personnel should be prepared for any situation, and that he was aware that he would have to leave MNDF behind someday.

It is not likely that Ibrahim Didi will return to MNDF even if the Court finds him not guilty of the allegations against him.

“It’s not right to return after submitting your resignation; it ends with your resignation,” he said.

Since he joined MNDF, Ibrahim Didi has obtained education at several renowned Military Academies around the world. He is one of the heroes who defended our nation during the coup attempt in 1988.

MNDF has indicated that Ibrahim Didi had submitted his resignation for honourable retirement from MNDF, and that his resignation is under process.