The High Court of the Maldives has nullified the Criminal Court verdict on former President Maumoon. The Criminal Court sentenced Maumoon to over one year in jail over obstruction of justice charges against him.

He was arrested on 5th February under the state of emergency announced on that day. The prosecutors charged him with obstruction of justice after he refused to handover his phone to the police for investigation.

Maumoon was in jail until late September. He was freed under bail after he appealed the case. Speaking to the press after the appeal hearing held today, Hussein Shameem, Maumoon’s lawyer said that the judge stated that the prosecutors did not follow the criminal procedure’s act and that the prosecutors also accept this. He said that the judge said that hence a criminal trial could not be held againt the criminal procedure’s act, the trial will be nullified.

“The judge noted that the criminal court did not provide Maumoon the chance to get a lawyer. The PG also accepted that. The hearing on which President Maumoon requested for a lawyer concluded at 11:30 pm. The next hearing was held in the afternoon of the following day and it was continued without a lawyer” said Shameem.