Courtroom confusion after judge change in chief justice trial
The judge said he didn’t know there had been an earlier hearing or that another judge had presided over the case.
23 Apr 2018, 9:00 AM
A heated debate took place in the criminal court Sunday after the judge overseeing the trial of Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed said he was unaware that another judge had presided over an earlier pre-trial hearing.
Defence attorneys, Hisaan Hussain and Noorusalam Abubakuru, expressed concern because the “change had happened in violation to the criminal procedures law and court procedures.” They questioned whether state prosecutors had requested a change.
Hisaan insisted that a judge can only be changed with a justifiable reason and both defendant and prosecutor must be informed before a change can happen. She requested the court to follow procedures ahead of future hearings.
State prosecutor Shamla Shameem objected to her request.
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