High Court of the Maldives decided to uphold the criminal court order to detain JP Leadr Qasim Ibrahim in police custody for 15 days.
High Court refused to accept all objects by Qasim’s lawyers. High Court interpreted the clause on arresting parliament members in the parliamentary privileges act. High Court decided that if the PG requests to detain a parliament member, another order is not required to retain the detention.
However, it should be noted that it is the Supreme Court which has the authority to interpret the constitution.
Hisaan said that Qasim is being detained without any other evidence and only based on the speech Qasim gave on 26th March at Kunooz.
Qasim was arrested on April 20th and then the criminal court remanded him for 15 days on 21stApril. Hence his remand period will end on 6thMay.
If the Supreme Court does not take any decision, based on the High Court ruling, Criminal Court can keep on extending Qasim’s detention as they wish.
High Court decided to keep Qasim detained – Will appeal at the Supreme Court: Lawyers
