Former Male’ Area Commander of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Ibrahim Mohamed Didi has said that Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed was arrested following an order by former President Mohamed Nasheed, which was executed by former Defence Minister Thol’hath Ibrahim Kaleyfaan.
Ibrahim Didi said this at the hearing of the case against him held at Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court where he is being charged by the State, under article 81 of the penal code, for arresting an innocent person. He said that he was not involved in the arrest of Judge Abdullah.
Presenting the claim, State Prosecutor Aishath Fazna Ahmed said that charges are being pressed against Ibrahim Didi because he, while acting as commander of the operation to arrest Judge Abdullah, arrested Judge Abdullah illegally following a decision by the chief of military.
This claim was denied by Ibrahim Didi, who said that he did not issue any order to arrest Judge Abdullah and that he should not be prosecuted for something done by the Defence Ministry.
He said that he had provided truthful statements during the investigation regarding the events that had transpired, and that he worked to protect the former government when he held the post of Male’ Area Commander.
Two procedural issues were raised by Ibrahim Didi’s team at today’s trial. They claimed that no similar charges had been pressed against anyone under article 81 of the Penal Code in the past, and also questioned the basis of the State’s decision that Judge Abdullah is an innocent person.
Responding to these claims, State Prosecutor Fazna said that similar charges were pressed in 1979 and 1980 and that the relevant documents will be presented at the next hearing. She said that the penal code is applied most often when prosecuting people for theft because theft is a common crime, and pointed out that the type of crime at hand, conversely, takes place rarely.
Regarding the State’s decision that Judge Abdullah is an innocent person, State Prosecutor Fazna said that the constitution guarantees that every person is innocent until proven guilty in court.
Judge Sujau Usman said regarding the court’s decisions on the procedural issues, that the procedural issues that were raised would not hinder the trial process, and that a decision will thus be announced along with the ruling on the case.
The State presented 21 pieces of evidence against Ibrahim Didi following his denial of the charges, including MNDF and Police personnel as witnesses.
Concluding today’s hearing, Judge Sujau Usman said that the next hearing will be held on 20 March, during which witnesses will present their testimonies.