Nasheed denied right to appoint lawyer and appeal “arbitrary” arrest warrant, contend lawyers

Former President Mohamed Nasheed is being denied the constitutional right to appoint a lawyer as well as the right to appeal the Criminal Court’s “arbitrary” arrest warrant ahead of a surprise terrorism trial due to commence today, contends the opposition leader’s legal team.

At a press conference this afternoon, Nasheed’s legal team revealed that the Criminal Court informed the lawyers this morning that they had to register at the court two days in advance despite being unaware of the trial until the former president’s arrest less than 24 hours ago.

“How can we submit forms two days ahead for a trial we did not know would take place two days before? It is clear to any sane person, this is absolute nonsense,” said Hisaan Hussain.

Nasheed was arrested at 2:30pm from his residence Yagoothuge yesterday (February 22). The warrant issued by the Criminal Court stated that Nasheed was being arrested on suspicion that he may abscond from trial.

Prosecutor General (PG) Muhthaz Muhsin filed terrorism charges against the former president yesterday over the military’s controversial detention of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed in January 2012.

The court first informed Nasheed’s lawyers – Hisaan Hussain, Hassan Latheef and Ibrahim Riffath – that they could not advocate at the Criminal Court as neither were officially registered.

Hassan Latheef noted that the Criminal Court’s registrar also refused to meet the lawyers before 1:30pm.

Two other lawyers from the five-member legal team – Abdulla Shaairu and Ahmed Abdulla Afeef, prominent criminal defence lawyers who are both registered at the Criminal Court – were then told that they must register again to represent Nasheed.

However, the court subsequently informed the pair that according to court regulations they must submit registration forms two days in advance to be authorised to represent Nasheed at today’s trial.

“We only found out charges had been filed by the Prosecutor General yesterday. There is no way we could have submitted forms ahead of that two day period,” said Shaairu.

“The constitution clearly affords all citizens the right to legal counsel, from the moment they are first accused to the moment the suspicion is resolved. Here, we are speaking of a man who is a former president, a man who has the majority support of the public. If he is not treated justly, what hope is there for the ordinary man?”

Right to appeal

Under new regulations enacted by the Supreme Court this month outlining the appeal process, Nasheed’s lawyers explained that appeal forms must be sent through the trial court to the appellate court.

In order to appeal the arrest warrant, the lawyers explained, the appeal must be filed at the Criminal Court, which would then forward the case to the High Court within a seven day period.

However, the Criminal Court informed Nasheed’s lawyers this morning that the new appeal forms had not been provided to the court.

Hisaan noted that the Criminal Court was unlikely to expedite the process of appealing its own rulings, “especially in cases of unlawful arrest.”

The new regulations deny citizens the constitutional right to appeal court decisions, she asserted.

Ahmed Abdulla Afeef meanwhile suggested that the Criminal Court could use the sample form provided by the Supreme Court and copy the trial court’s letterhead, adding that the legal team was ready with all the paperwork to submit the appeal as soon as possible.

“Arbitrary”

Nasheed’s lawyers also expressed concern over “several irregularities” in the warrant signed by Judge Abdul Bari Yoosuf at 12:30pm yesterday, noting the absence of  key information such as place and time period of detention.

Despite the Criminal Court scheduling the first hearing of the terrorism trial for 4:00pm today, the warrant does not state that Nasheed must be brought to trial today.

Moreover, under normal procedure, police request arrest warrants to detain a suspect in an investigation.

However, in Nasheed’s case, PG Muhsin personally went to the Criminal Court yesterday and obtained the warrant, the lawyers revealed.

“We have always noted the state in prosecuting President Nasheed, has previously acted unlawfully. In this instance, we see the Prosecutor General so clearly and publicly flouting the law for political motives. We call on the PG to show independence and to act within the constitution,” said Hisaan.

The legal team also revealed that the Criminal Court has issued a new warrant ordering police to present Nasheed at for the terrorism trial due to begin at 4:00pm.

The lawyers noted the lack of continuity between the warrants, arguing that Nasheed must be released immediately if yesterday’s warrant is now outdated.

“I think police themselves are not clear what to do next. There is no time period in the warrant, so should he be brought before court in 24 hours? But that is done when an individual is arrested in an ongoing investigation, if there is no court order,” explained Hisaan.

“And if there is a court warrant, then the time period in the warrant expires. This case, however, is not an ongoing investigation.
It is not clear to anyone what they are trying to do. All we know is that there’s been serious and several violations of the constitutions, law and norms in issuing this warrant and in arresting the former president.”

“Abscond from trial”

Nasheed was arrested on the grounds that he had attempted to abscond trial during proceedings at the Hulhumalé Magistrate Court last year. A police intelligence report was also submitted as evidence to obtain the arrest warrant.

But the lawyers insist Nasheed cannot be held in detention because he “had never absconded from court, nor have taken the opportunity to flee or go into hiding, during numerous opportunities he had in the past few weeks to travel abroad, and that he had expressly informed the judiciary and Prosecutor General that he does not have any intention to abscond from Court or avoid charges being brought against him.”

PG Office Spokesperson Adam Arif told Minivan News that Nasheed’s arrest warrant was different from those issued in instances where an individual refuses to appear at court.

Nasheed had not previously been informed he would be prosecuted on terrorism charges.

Meanwhile, the PG office insisted in a statement yesterday that there was no legal “obstacle” to raising charges against former President Nasheed as a court had not ruled that the case submitted to the Hulhumalé Magistrate Court on September 1, 2012 could not be heard.

After withdrawing the case for further review on February 15, the Prosecutor General decided “the best way [forward] in this case is to change the charges raised against Mohamed Nasheed and the court in which it was filed”.

The PG pressed terrorism charges against the former president under authority granted by the constitution, the Prosecutor General’s Act, and High Court rulings, the statement added.

“Therefore, as the case against Mohamed Nasheed is in the court process, we note that it is not desirable for politicians, some members of the public, political parties, and some media to talk in a way that both creates anxiety among the public about verdicts issued by courts and causes loss of confidence in independent institutions created by the constitution,” reads the PG’s statement.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

8 thoughts on “Nasheed denied right to appoint lawyer and appeal “arbitrary” arrest warrant, contend lawyers”

  1. What ever that are happening in regard to former President should the blame be put on Abdul or Yamin Gayyoon? It is the principle that they shall not interfere with the Independ my institutions and the authority exercised by those Independent authorities such as Judiciery, Office of Prosecuter and Attirny Generels and Police , if any misconduct or unconstitutional acts are committed by those institutions, take all the necessary steps to bring those incidents to the notice of Police Integrity Commission, JSC and in regard to Prosecuter and Attirney Generals you may bring up the matters to Parliamentary committees. Her Yamin Abdul Gayyoom is also a victim of these independent Institutions. Even Abdul Nad Yamin Gayyom would like to punish those who have acted beyond their boundaries. HEP shall not hesitate to take stern actions against those who have exceeded their authority.

    Likes(0)Dislikes(0)
  2. Kangaroo court in a Banana Republic - as to be expected. This is what happens when you allow thugs to get away with it. The amazing thing is that this is what some people want - and have voted in - in the name of "stability".. Stability at any price? Stability in a mafia context? Surely Maldivians are capable of more insight (and longer memories) than this..?

    Likes(0)Dislikes(0)
  3. Even the excessive force used by SO police officials in handling former President will be severely dealt by HEP Yamin. Have no doubt about this

    Likes(0)Dislikes(0)
  4. @ Badhal Mohamed

    "Not interfere with independant institutions" ????

    "Excessive force will be dealt with" ???

    Are you believing yourself what you are saying?

    Likes(0)Dislikes(0)
  5. Remember that some people are above the law, and some people are more equal than others.

    Maldives hit the headlines on the BBC yesterday.

    There will be more tourists coming now and more money flowing to the coffer.

    Development will be expedited.

    Maldives will soon achieve First World status.

    Likes(0)Dislikes(0)
  6. Me thinks Yamin doesn't control all the variables now. Some cogs are moving by themselves (maybe out of vengeance) like court, PG etc. Its not like Yamin can call somebody and arrange whatever verdict he wishes, because the country is so much divided and the risk of leak would be too much for him to take. All this is not going to be well for PPM and its very likely they are signing their own demise from politics for some long long time. MDP could have avoided all these troubles had they tried to include the patriots, the muslims onboard their government. but the secular atheists in the party convinced Anni to go alone hoping not to share with others any good thing they get. and they got their just desserts

    Likes(0)Dislikes(0)
  7. What's happened in Maldives are now sup price, the juridical and political leaders would have problem managing a medium size soup kitchen, don’t think many of the customers would like the soup served.Customers has to find chefs that produce good soup, not bitter without taste

    Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Comments are closed.