The two journalists of local television channel Raajje TV, Mohamed Visam and Leevan Ali Nazeer, on Monday appealed the Criminal Court’s verdict fining them MVR 28,800 each after being convicted of obstructing police.
The lower court had ruled them guilty of obstructing Police for attempting to stop policemen from arresting their CEO Hussain Fiyaz, who had been caught trespassing on Maafannu Stadium which the police had closed off in November 2015 to defuse an explosive device discovered near the presidential palace of Muliaage.
The journalists’ lawyer Abdulla Haseen confirmed that they have filed an appeal at the High Court.
Visam and Leevan had narrowly avoided a jail sentence, what with their proven charges carrying a jail term of up to four months. However, their sentence was reduced to only a fine as this is their first proven criminal offence.
Meanwhile, Visam is facing a second case of obstructing police which is still unclosed.
Another journalist of Raajje TV and its CEO Fiyaz are undergoing criminal trials.
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