Nasheed’s trial cannot be postponed- Judiciary

Nasheed has not received a court summon- Office of Nasheed

Spokesperson of the Judiciary, Latheefa Gasim has said that the trial of the former President Mohamed Nasheed in relation to his illegal arrest of the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed, which is schedules to be held today at the Justice Building cannot be postponed despite Nasheed’s request to do so.

Latheefa Gasim said that the former President sent a fax to Hulhumale’ in the government holiday requesting the court to postpone the trial to a later day. She added that Nasheed mentioned that he was busy in campaign tours.

Latheefa Gasim said that a trial can only be postponed if a reason mentioned in the regulations of court hearings is informed to the Court. She said that campaigning for an election is not a valid excuse to postpone a court hearing.

Nasheed failed to appear for the court hearing on last Monday. He openly defied the court’s order by leaving the capital in a fishing boat to another island to engage in his election campaign while the court ordered to appear before court on Monday and also not to leave the capital, Male, without the court’s permission. The government coalition parties stated that Nasheed defying the court order is a challenge he made against the justice system of the Maldives.

The first hearing is now scheduled to be held today at 4 in the evening. A court summon was also sent to Nasheed for the charges of defamation filed by Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim. Nasheed is to appear on the trial of the defamation case next Monday.

Meanwhile, Nasheed’s office issued a press release stating that the former President gathered from the media that a court order has been issued by the Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court ordering Maldives Police Service to produce him to court on 7th October 2012. The press release stated that Nasheed has not received a court
summon requiring him to attend the hearing for the said date at the Court to this date.

Nasheed’s office noted that he has received information through media that the Maldives Police Service issued an order to produce him for the hearing scheduled for 7th October 2012 at the Court.