Nasheed requests High Court for temporary order to suspend trial

Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s legal team has requested the High Court for a temporary order to suspend the trial against him for the arrest and subsequent detention of Chief Judge of Criminal Court, Abdullah Mohamed.

The team’s request from High Court was for an order to suspend the trial against Nasheed at Hulhumale’ Court, until High Court makes a decision on the appealed case on the procedural points raised by Nasheed’s team.

Member of Nasheed’s legal team Hisaan Hussain said today at High Court while presenting the request for this order, that Hulhumale’ Court was established illegally.

Prosecutor General’s Office’s Assistant Public Prosecutor Abdullah Raabiu said that he would not object to High Court’s decision to issue a temporary order as requested.

Hulhumale’ Court refused to accept the points of procedure raised by Nasheed’s team at the first trial session.

Following this, Nasheed’s team appealed Hulhumale’ Court’s decision to High Court, and requested Hulhumale’ Court to suspend the trial until High Court makes a decision on the appealed case.

However the Judges bench of Hulhumale’ Court decided to proceed as long as High Court did not issue an order to suspend the trial.

Concluding yesterdays’s session, High Court Judge Shuaib Hussain Zakariya said that a decision on the temporary order will be made at 9:30am on 4 November.

The Attorney General’s Office and Judicial Service Commission (JSC) have been allowed to intervene following the questions raised about the legitimacy of Hulhumale’ Court.

Hulhumale’ Court has scheduled the next hearing for 4 November.

Nasheed is being charged by the State for the arrest of an innocent person. He is accused of having ordered Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to arrest Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed Abdullah Mohamed and detain him in Girifushi Island.

Today’s hearing was attended by supporters of MDP, parliament members of MDP and former Ministers.