Not trying to escape being summoned to Court: Councillor Mirzad

Feydhoo Councillor Ahmed Mirzad has refuted Criminal Court’s statement, that it was not able to deliver the official chit to summon Mirzad to Court for the trial on the case of arson attacks in Addu on 8 February 2012.

Criminal Court said today that it could not deliver the official chit to Mirzad, as his family at home had said that they were not informed of Mirzad’s whereabouts.

Mirzad contacted Sun Online today and said that he is currently in Male’ on trip for the Local Government Authority (LGA).

He noted that if contacted, the City Council would have assisted Criminal Court in delivering the chit to him.

He also said that Criminal Court’s statement about his family is not true.

Mirzad said that he is ready to produce himself in Court to respond to the allegations against him.

“I have been in Male’ since 29 August. The Court has not tried to call me or anything. I am ready to accept the chit and go to Court,” he said.

The Decentralisation Act states that a Councillor will be removed from his post, if he is convicted of a criminal offence and has to serve a sentence of more than one year.

Mirzad has been charged with terrorism, and if convicted will be banished or imprisoned for 10 to 15 years.

Among the 40 people charged with terrorism following the arson attacks in Addu is also Hithadhoo Dhekunu MP Mohamed Rasheed.

The Constitution states that a Parliament Member will lose his seat if he is convicted of a criminal offence and has to serve a sentence of more than 1.5 years.

MP Mohamed Rasheed also could not attend Court today, as he is abroad on an official Parliament trip.

Out of the 40 people charged for this crime, only 32 were present in Court today.