JP Leader Qasim Ibrahim’s lawyer Hisaan Hussein have said that the verdict on Qasim Ibrahim undermines the constitution and the criminal procedures act.
Hisaan said that issuing a verdict against the criminal procedures act will affect the whole system. She said that in a criminal trial, nothing related to the defendant can be done in absentia. She said that all these things are mentioned in the constitution.
The other lawyer who spoke to the media also said that, he is concerned about this, as a lawyer and as a Maldivian. He said that so far in Maldives a trial has not been conducted in this manner. Lawyer Shameem said that it is unlawful to conduct trials in the defendant’s absentia.
Hisan said that the summon order was given to Qasim at 10:35 pm and it asked him to attend the hearing at 11:00 pm. She said that they replied to the court in a letter saying that Qasim cannot attend the hearing due to his ill health and the court responded after one hour saying that they will not accept the letter. The verdict also states that, Qasim should be able to get the medical treatment he needs and that the jail sentence should not be an obstacle in attaining treatment.
Hence this shows that the judge was well aware of Qasim’s condition even while he conducted the trial and sentenced Qasim to jail.
The verdict on Qasim Ibrahim completely undermines the criminal procedures act : Lawyers
