The High Court on Wednesday concluded that there are not enough grounds to keep Ahmed Shafiu, who was arrested under bribery accusations, in custody.
Shafiu, who is a member of the opposition Jumhoory Party (JP), was arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe lawmakers ahead of the censure motion against Parliament Speaker Abdullah Maseeh, along with Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon.
However, the Criminal Court had freed him claiming that there was not enough evidence to implicate him.
State prosecution had appealed the lower court’s decision to free him and appealed to keep him remanded till the trial is over. However, the High Court upheld the lower court’s decision regarding Shafiu's arrest.
The High Court maintained that there is not enough evidence to keep him in custody as per the newly rectified Criminal Procedure Act.
MP Faris, however, still remains in custody till his hearings have been concluded. The High Court will announce its verdict on the lawmaker’s case in the next hearing.