Opposition coalition's presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu) has pledged to release the two jailed former top court judges, former Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and former Judge Ali Hameed, in an administration of the opposition.
Speaking during a rally at Meedhoo, Addu Atoll as part of the coalition’s campaign trip, Ibu revealed that he would immediately free both the Addu Atoll-born justices in an administration of the opposition and further alleged that the justices were detained unlawfully.
Highlighting the landmark Supreme Court ruling of February 1, Ibu stated that the ruling to free nine prominent political prisoners were passed unanimously by a five-judge bench.
The five judges on the bench during the landmark February 1 ruling were Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, Judge Ali Hameed, Judge Abdulla Areef, Judge Abdulla Didi and Judge Adam Mohamed.
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had declared a state of emergency in the country on February 5, for a period of 45-days, following the unprecedented ruling by the Supreme Court and arrested Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Judge Ali Hameed.
Hameed has been charged with accepting bribes and obstructing justice, while Saeed has been charged with attempting to orchestrate an act of terrorism, accepting bribes, obstructing justice, as well as obstructing government functions.
In addition to the duo's sentences, Saeed was also found guilty of ordering to shut down the Supreme Court's Government E-letter Management System (GEMS) in the wake of the February 1 ruling.
Ibu further accused President Yameen of asserting undue influence on the judiciary by arresting the two top court judges and overturning the order issued by the top court.
“President Yameen has destroyed the system. He has put a lock on the parliament and that lock will be removed on September 23 [the day of the presidential elections]”, said Ibu.
According to Ibu, the parliament will resume its sittings with a majority of opposition lawmakers.
- Protect the eroded area and repair the harbour.
- Improve the quality of healthcare services at the health centre.
- Develop the football ground at Hulhudhoo.
- Reopen the closed private campuses and establish a university campus in the island.
- Facilitate a way for the people of Meedhoo to obtain required documents from Aasandha, the national health care insurance scheme, from the island.
- Provide subsidies and loans for farmers and ensure profit.
- Allow the city council to issue land for tourism purposes.
Ibu added that the opposition manifesto pledges great development for Addu Atoll and revealed that further details of the developments will be disclosed at an opposition gathering at Hithadhoo.
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