Gayoom, Supreme Court justices accused of destroying evidence

Police have sought prosecution of jailed former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, and Justice Ali Hameed on charges of destroying evidence.

The cases were forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s office on Wednesday, police tweeted.

But the three were arrested on charges of plotting a coup shortly after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency on February 5.

Police are also seeking charges of evading arrest against judicial administrator Hassan Saeed, who was also taken into custody after the security forces stormed the Supreme Court compound.

Others detained over the alleged coup plot include Gayoom’s son Faris Maumoon, son-in-law Mohamed Nadheem, Justice Hameed’s wife Fathmath Nasira, Jumhooree Party leader’s son Ibrahim Siyad Gasim, MP Abdulla Sinan and MP Ilham Ahmed.

Several senior officers of the police and armed forces have also been detained.

Despite seeking the lesser charge of destroying evidence, police claim to have proof of bribery amounting to millions of dollars as well as “documentary evidence” of the judges and judicial administrator buying property overseas.

On Monday, Superintendent Ahmed Shifan told the press that charges related to the alleged coup plot will be sent for prosecution soon. Gayoom’s lawyer Hussain Shameem is also under investigation for allegedly obstructing police duty and accusing police of planting evidence, the police spokesman said.

The Department of Judicial Administration suspended Shameem last week in relation to the police probe.

“We sadly note lawyers are spreading blatant lies in public and in media about the investigations done by Police. This is to create mistrust about the work being done by police amongst the public, and to deliberately devalue our work,” Shifan said.

.@PoliceMv

Let me get this straight..

Just 2 days ago, you said you had enough evidence against Pres. @maumoonagayoom

Yet, instead of sending to @PGO_MV the case in which you have all the evidence, you sent one in which you DON'T have any evidence?

Yep, totally convincing.

— Maumoon Hameed (@maanhameed) February 28, 2018