Zaki, Zuharu Jabiru, Hamid and 6 others arrested and realesed
on charges of Consuming Liquer
Former Presidents Special Envoy Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, his press secretary Mohamed Zuhairu, Kaashidhoo dhaairaa MP Abdulla Jabiru, Male Henveiru south region MP Hamid Abdulghafoor and 6 others including 2 srilankans arrested on 15 th November and released on 16th on charges for for consuming Liquer in Island HDH. Hondaidhoo where the construction work is hoing on to develop as a resort.
Since the island is not developed there is no liquer lisence for the island even to have a Bar.
According to the police large no of liquer bottles were found with them and they caught them while consuming liquer. Also some of them were in naked status.
Under Maldivian Constitution consuming liquer is allowed only foreigners who are non muslims and if a Maldivian consumes liquer it’s a criminal offence and should be charged in the criminal court.
But when 2 MPs were arrested In the parliament The Committee on Privileges convened tonight at 2030 hrs for an emergency meeting following the arrest of Parliamentary Members Abdulla Jabir, MP, Kaashidhoo and Hamid Abdul Gafoor, MP, Henveiru- South.
The Counsel General of the People’s Majlis was present at the meeting, and noted that the arrest contravened Article 202 (d) of the Standing Orders. Article 202 states that a Member of Parliament cannot be arrested preceding an imminent Majlis decision on a resolution to remove the President, judges, members of independent institutions and independent officers from office. The issue of the removal of the President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan and the President of the Civil Service Commission, Mr. Mohamed Fahmy Hassan, is currently before parliament.
After discussions, members voted to issue an order to the Maldives Police Service to immediately release the incarcerated MPs. The majority of MPs present also voted to continue the committee meeting until the two MPs are released from police custody, and Abdulla Jabir, MP, Kaashidhoo who is a member of the Committee on Privileges, attends tonight’s proceedings.
Concerning the matter many political leaders have called that if a person is involved in a criminal offence, it is not fair to judge him in any different way than how to be judged to a common man. “A crime is a crime. There is no difference in who did the crime.”