Trial begins for 8 charged over MDP protest

The trial of eight individuals accused of obstructing police officers during an opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest in Malé began on Wednesday.

The charges relate to a demonstration held on Majeedhee Magu on the night of 3 October last year. Authorities allege the group attempted to proceed with the protest contrary to police instructions and intentionally obstructed law enforcement officers in the execution of their duties.

Among those charged are Kendhoo constituency MP Mauroof Zakir and Hulhumalé North councillor Fathimath Zahiyya.

The other defendants are Abdulla Salaam, Mohamed Hamaid Abdul Ghanee, Ali Naufal, Aishath Najuda Ali, Ali Muavvazu and Hussain Rasheed.

All defendants except MP Mauroof attended Wednesday's hearing.

During the proceedings, the court was informed that three defendants — Naufal, Muavvazu and Hussain — had applied to the Prosecutor General's Office for conditional caution agreements, a form of pretrial diversion.

The requests were submitted late on Tuesday night and the Prosecutor General's Office has not yet reached a decision on the applications.

The remaining four defendants requested 30 days to appoint legal representation.

Presiding Judge Ibrahim Zihunee granted them 10 days, noting that this is the standard period provided to defendants who are not in custody. However, he said the next hearing would be scheduled in a manner that would effectively provide additional time for legal preparations.

Police intervened in the protest on 3 October before the demonstration proceeded. Following confrontations between protesters and police, seven other individuals were arrested and their cases were forwarded for prosecution.

However, the Prosecutor General's Office later decided not to pursue charges against those individuals, citing insufficient evidence.