MP for Kaashidhoo Ismail Abdul Hameed appeared in court today facing charges of corruption and abuse of authority while he was director of the Male’ municipality.
Elected as an independent, Hameed signed for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) last year but left the ruling party shortly after.
According to Haveeru, Hameed’s lawyer questioned whether the case was officially sent to the Prosecutor General’s (PG’s) office by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), arguing that the letter requesting prosecution was signed only by former ACC President Ali Rasheed Umar.
Deputy PG Mahmoud Saleem replied that the normal procedure was for the chair of the commission to sign official correspondence.
Today’s hearing was adjourned after the judge asked the prosecution to submit documents from the ACC at the next hearing.