The Criminal Court heard the defence testimony and scheduled the case summary hearing for Wednesday on the identity fraud trial of detained Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon.
The son of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Faris is charged with identity theft for unlawfully using ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s flag and logo at a press conference held with the opposition coalition last year.
Defence lawyers presented 47 witnesses for Faris. However, presiding Judge Ibrahim Ali, had earlier stated that only key witnesses could be summoned to the trial. Thus only five key witnesses were allowed to testify.
Aminath Nadhira, a member of Gayoom's faction in PPM, stated that the press conference was held amidst the ruling party’s split into two factions.
Nadhira revealed that in addition to Faris Maumoon, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Makunudhoo MP and member of Adhaalath Party Anaaraa Naeem, Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz and political activists were all present at the press conference. She noted that MP Faris attended the press conference then to represent the Gayoom faction of PPM, and not the ruling party itself.
Nadhira had also stated that MP Faris did not possess the party flag or logo to her understanding.
Abdul Aleem, the party’s former secretary general, also testified in court stating that any member of PPM can use the party’s flag and logo. As there were no complaints lodged concerning MP Faris to the party’s ethics committee earlier, the decision to dismiss Faris from PPM violates the party principles and procedure.
Local television channel VTV's journalist Azmoon Ahmed also testified in favour of MP Faris. He had said the PPM flag was behind Faris at the press conference but that the MP had talked on behalf of then PPM's president, Gayoom.
All five key witnesses allowed to testify had denied seeing Faris use the PPM flag and logo to represent PPM at any press conferences.
Faris had earlier expressed concern over the judge’s decision to only summon certain key witnesses presented by the defence. Faris stated that he was denied his right for defence with limitations from the presiding judge.
However, Judge Ibrahim Ali maintained that the Court was not stripping the lawmaker of his right of defence, noting that the Court had also agreed to assess witness testimonies regarding the case. MP Faris will face a jail term of four months and 24 days if convicted.
PPM was split into rival factions when Gayoom was stripped of his leadership role by the Civil Court, which ordered President Abdulla Yameen Yameen, the party’s then chief advisor, to resume council meetings under his leadership. The executive council had promptly put the president in charge of the party. But Gayoom remained defiant, insisting that the party’s charter prohibits the chief advisor from active involvement in managing the party.
However, PPM's ethics committee had expelled the party founder, accusing him of working with the opposition to overthrow the lawful government, after Gayoom formed an alliance with opposition leaders.
PPM had heavily condemned MP Faris’ use of the party’s flag alongside opposition flags and claimed that he had tainted the party’s “good name.”
The Dhiggaru lawmaker is also facing trial over terrorism and bribery charges.
MP Faris still remains in police custody at Dhoonidhoo prison.
Sign In