Judge slams lawyers on delays in trial of ex-President Nasheed
Judge Soffath opened the hearing, noting that Ali Haisham's lawyer had provided a letter explaining his inability to attend due to illness.
In the latest development of the high-profile case involving former President Mohamed Nasheed, Judge Soffath Habeeb on Sunday voiced concerns regarding repeated delays, largely attributed to the absence of defense lawyers.
Sunday’s hearing, originally scheduled for 10am was intended to hear testimony from prosecution witnesses, but faced yet another postponement when a defense lawyer failed to appear.
Judge Soffath opened the hearing, noting that Ali Haisham's lawyer had provided a letter explaining his inability to attend due to illness. The letter stated that the lawyer had not seen Haisham since Saturday, citing his client’s leg injuries, fatigue, and a fever as reasons for his absence.
However, Judge Soffath found these reasons unsatisfactory, highlighting discrepancies in the documentation. The judge pointed out that the medical document submitted mentioned leg injuries but omitted any reference to fever, fatigue, or respiratory symptoms. Moreover, the judge noted that the document provided was not an official court-accepted medical certificate.
The hearing has now faced several postponements, primarily due to similar health-related issues among the lawyers involved. Judge Soffath remarked, “If a lawyer has to cancel the hearing every time he gets sick, the hearing cannot continue.” he further emphasized the need for expedited proceedings, especially given the complexities and the extensive preparatory work required for each hearing.
During today’s session, Haisham expressed his wish to proceed with a lawyer present, while the prosecution strongly objected to moving forward without legal representation for the defense. Prosecutor Aiminath Sheeza Mohamed argued that all defendants must have access to legal counsel, particularly when key witnesses are set to testify. Ultimately, Judge Soffath agreed to the postponement after repeated objections from the prosecution, rescheduling the case to resume tomorrow.
Judge Soffath expressed frustration over the continuous disruptions and advised defense lawyers to prioritize the trial’s progress. Noting that some defendants have already been in custody for an extended period, she stressed the importance of cooperation from all parties. Judge Soffath also stipulated that only officially recognized medical documents would be accepted as reasons for absence, further requiring the submission of a court-approved leave form for any future requests.
The case against Nasheed and several co-defendants involves a range of charges, primarily centered on terrorism-related offenses. The charges and accused include:
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Thahmeen Ahmed, Folheymaage / G.Kondey : charged with participating in an act of terrorism, aiding and abetting the transportation of explosives, and supporting a terrorist group.
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Mujaaz Ahmed, Ma. Feyruge / K. Male’: accused of conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism and aiding in the escape of a criminal.
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Ali Haisham, Nooreege / N. Manadhoo : facing charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism, aiding in the transportation of explosives, and participating in terrorism.
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Ishaag, Ma. Kudhehige / K. Male’ : charged with transportation of explosives, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and participating in terrorism.
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Fahumee Ali, Hudhuruvaage / Ga. Villingili : accused of participating in an act of terrorism.
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Mohamed Naazim, Asareege / AA. Maalhos : facing charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism.
One defendant, Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, previously confessed to his involvement in an assassination attempt on the night of May 6, 2021. After entering into a plea agreement with the state, he received a reduced sentence of 23 years in prison.
