A Criminal Court judge handling the case of two persons identified by police as “dangerous criminals” has claimed that police had “not cooperated” with the court and that both may have to be released.
Thursday’s hearing of the case against Ahmed Shareef of Gaafu Dhaalu Nadella and Maadhih Mohamed of Laamu Gan, had to be cancelled after police officers who were supposed to testify as witnesses failed to appear, according to local media.
The media reported the judge as saying that it was the fourth hearing in the trial that had to be cancelled because the two police officers did not appear, and stated that the court was informed that one police officer was on vacation while the other was not turning up for work.
The judge said that a hearing would be scheduled for next week and that if the two police officers failed to appear, the two suspects would be released from custody.
Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam meanwhile said that police had always fully cooperated with the Criminal Court and had always produced persons necessary for trials.
“If we had failed to produce someone to the court we have always informed the court about it, and given a reason as to why we have been unable to present him,” Shiyam said.
Shareef and Maadhih are both charged of assaulting and stabbing Ismail Firdhaus, near the Hulhumale’ ferry terminal.
Both of them denied the charges against them, however, the court granted the police authority to hold them in police custody until their trial was concluded.
On February 17, Criminal Court’ Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed released Ibrahim Shahum Adam, a 19 year-old who was arrested in August last year for allegedly murdering 17 year-old Mohamed Hussain.
Adam was presented to the Criminal Court with a police request to extend the period of detention, but Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed noted that the Criminal Court had already extended the detention of Shahum by six months for investigation which had not yet been concluded.
Police blamed the Health Ministry, and told the judge that the investigation had not concluded because the ministry had not responded to a letter police sent in August 2010 requesting the medical report on the death of Mohamed Hussain.
Judge Abdulla told police this was not reasonable grounds to keep a person in detention.
Later the family of Ahusan Basheer, 21, who was fatally stabbed in a gang fight, accused Shahum of murdering Ahusan and blamed Judge Abdulla for releasing him.
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Police witnesses are too scared of these crims because they are certain these people will be roaming freely on our streets very soon.
It is worrying to see a lack of co-operation between the two pillars of order and security in the country - the police and the judiciary. I wonder if Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam or his department bothered to issue reasons to the court as to why the two witnesses failed to appear consecutively for hearings. Apart from that, there is no reason for the criminals to be released yet; the court can compel witnesses to appear before the court, and since this case involves 2 police witnesses – the obligation on them to appear and give witness is higher than that placed upon ordinary civilians.
What i would say is, the police have no guts...the vacation officer and the un-obedient officer will b responsible for whatever actions these two do once released...
Being a policeman does not mean to wear a uniform of which you dont even know the meaning of!. the risk comes in with it. so if you cant dare to take the risk, you take your uniform off and then take the rights of a normal civillian. Until then, you keep the promise you made to god on your passing out parade. Freak!
These persons have their Constitutional rights violated in broad daylight by the Police and the media who have labelled them "dangerous criminals" without any mention of prior convictions.
Also, "set free" is not the proper phrase to use in this context. The court could order the police to "set a detainee free" if they were being held against the law. However, these persons were not really caged animals in the first place. Therefore, Minivan needs to brush up on its English in order to avoid "attacking the judiciary for their paymasters".
Smearing the judiciary and destroying their credibility is in no one's interest. If we do not try to proactively address the gaps and shortcomings in the judiciary instead of challenging its rulings, attacking its justices and devising anti-campaigns then the average citizen would have to be forced to respect the rulings of the judiciary by force of arms.
Kaloa! it's not the right time for you to correct English of Minivan articles...English is the editor's native language...your native language is Dhivehi so you are not the right person for this, sorry my dear!
When the murderers are protected by the country's famous thugs, Judge Abdulla shall have to release them. It's not because the Police does not provide proper evidence or the law has shortcomings.
So, what we have to do is minimizing threats to Judges and enforcing the country's law
@tsk tsk: These people have stabbed another human being in your so-called broad daylight.
And you worry about petty differences in your notion of English and the editors?
I totally agree with Rocket's comment on 27th August