Hulhumale

Hulhumale’ Court has issued a travel ban on former President Mohamed Nasheed, following the State’s charges against him regarding the illegal arrest of Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed.

Spokesperson of Department of Judicial Administration Latheefa Gasim said that the ban was issued yesterday under articles 23 and 24 of the procedure regulations on Court summons, on all suspects involved in this case.

She informed that the case has been accepted by Hulhumale’ Court.

“The defendants have been informed that the case has been registered at Hulhumale’ Court. They have been given the chance to appoint lawyers. They have also been informed that the documents related to the case will be released upon request,” she said.

Article 23 of the procedure regulations on Court summons states that neither the plaintiff nor the defendant may leave the country without Court approval after a case is filed to Court, while article 24 states that they must also obtain prior Court approval if they wish to leave the country for medical treatment.

In addition to Nasheed, the State has pressed charges against former Defence Minister Thalhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaan, former Chief of Defence Force Moosa Ali Jaleel, Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Didi and Colonel Mohamed Ziyad, in relation to the illegal detention of the Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdullah Mohamed in Girifushi Island for 22 days.

They are all charged under article 81 of the Penal Code, which states, “It shall be an offence for any public servant by reason of authority of office he is in to detain to arrest or detain in a manner contrary to Law innocent persons. Person guilty of this offence shall be subjected to exile or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding Mrf 2,000.00.”

The Department of Judicial Administration has said that the case will be presided over by three Judges. No date has yet been confirmed for the commencement of this trial.