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Chief justice's lawyer Suood suspended

21 March 2018, MVT 09:42
Former Attorney General Husnu Al-Suood with the copy of the "big" Constitution that was presented to the Attorney General's Office. PHOTO / TWITTER
21 March 2018, MVT 09:42

Former Attorney General and jailed Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed’s lawyer Husnu Al Suood has been suspended again Tuesday.

The Criminal Court had order the suspension of the prominent lawyer after he spoke to the press about Judge Saeed’s hearing on Sunday. The court had stated contempt of court, obstruction of government work, and defaming the courts and its judges as the reason for his suspension.

Suood was summoned to the court and asked to respond to the allegations; however he had refused the opportunity, and was suspended afterwards, the Criminal Court also noted, in its statement.

The suspension effectively bars Suood from practicing until it concludes its investigation into the claims made against the lawyer.

“I have been suspended by the Criminal Court and banned from defending the Chief Justice of Maldives Mr Abdullah Saeed in the on going criminal trial against him. The voice of justice cannot be silenced,” Suood Tweeted, along with the court order that suspended him.

During a press conference Monday, Chief Justice Saeed’s lawyers Suood and Hisaan Hussain had claimed that Judge Ahmed Hailam presiding over the Chief Justice’s case at the Criminal Court, was conducting an arbitrary hearing against Judge Saeed.

Hisaan was also summoned to the Criminal Court and asked to apologize for her remarks, as it “negatively” reflected the court.

At the Chief Justice’s hearing Sunday, presiding Judge Ahmed Hailam had said that the hearing would not be prosecuted under the Criminal Procedure Code since the allegations levied against the judge were related to the state of emergency, that is still in place.

Suood was suspended last September following a petition that was submitted to the Supreme Court endorsed by 54 lawyers, and his suspension was lifted by the Chief Justice shortly before his arrest on February 5, after the state of emergency was declared.

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