Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, currently under imprisonment, filed an appeal over his prison sentence to the Supreme Court following failed attempts to hold a hearing at the High Court.
“As a hearing has not been held at the High Court so far, we have filed an appeal requesting the Supreme Court to order the hearing be executed by the High Court”, stated Maumoon Hameed, Gayoom’s lawyer.
Hameed further accused the state of drawing a distinction between the political leaders released on Monday by the Criminal Court.
“They were released without a hearing. They were brought to court and handed release documents by the registrar. As such, it is an issue of contention for me. I have requested that President Gayoom receive similar treatment”, said Hameed.
Gayoom, after his summons at the Criminal Court on Monday, returned back to incarceration, having had no progress on his case.
Reportedly, the proceedings had been prepared and officials were in attendance when the court made its decision to cancel the hearing.
On Monday, the Criminal Court ordered the release of political prisoners including the Deputy Leader of Jumhooree Party and Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz, Gayoom’s son-in-law Mohamed Nadheem, Gemanafushi MP Ilham Ahmed, Machangoalhi North MP Abdulla Sinan and former Police Commissioner Ahmed Areef.
Galholhu South MP Ahmed Mahloof was also released the following Tuesday.
In addition to the former president, prisoners that were brought to court on Monday only to return without a hearing held include former judges Abdulla Saeed and Ali Hameed.
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