Request to seek experts to analyze Gedhoruveriya Portal

A request was made today in the Criminal Court to bring in an expert to analyze the Gedhoruveriya Portal during the trial where former heads of the Housing Ministry are being charged with awarding flats to those who did not meet the requirements from the previous administrations Gedhoruveriya scheme.

The prosecution is charging former State Minister Akram Kamaludeen, former member of the flat committee Mohamed Arif and Gedhoruveriya scheme verification supervisors Ahmed Vishan Naseem and Shirugam Waheed with awarding flats to those who did not meet the requirements.

In today's trial regarding the charge of misusing their position, Akram and Arif had submitted a pre-trial motion for the opportunity to bring in an expert to go through the Gedhoruveriya Portal after being given access to it.

However, the prosecution said that access cannot be given due to the portal having personal information of a lot of individuals, with defense lawyers having already been given the portal's logs relevant to the case.

In regards to the opportunity of bringing in an expert, the prosecution said that if the court wishes, an expert can be brought in.

Akram and Arif had submitted a motion stating that the charges were not clearly stated as details of the time and how the crime was committed were not given to them. However, the prosecution said that the charge itself is clear without a doubt.

Shirugam's lawyers stated that the case's investigation is incomplete due to the police's forensic analysis recommending that further investigation needs to be done due to reasonable doubt.

The defense lawyer stated that Shirugam's login details were used to approve forms while he was traveling abroad, adding that the portal can only be accessed by the systems in the ministry itself.

The prosecution responded stating that it cannot be said the investigation is incomplete even though the forensic analysis stated as such, with them also stating that their witness testimonies would bring many of the issues to light.

The defense lawyer had also put in a motion to not acknowledge certain documents pertaining to the case.

Presiding Judge Adam Mohamed stated that the issue of the documents would reach a decision before the end of the month.