Maldives chief justice on trial
Chief Justice Saeed, who was accused of instigating a coup in the wake of a Supreme Court order for the release of nine prisoners, is standing trial for obstructing state functions, a charge he denies.
18 Mar 2018, 9:00 AM
Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed was brought to court on Sunday for the first time since his arrest at the outset of a 45-day state of emergency last month.
Saeed, who was initially accused of instigating a coup after the Supreme Court ordered the release of nine prisoners, is standing trial for obstructing state functions, a charge he denies.
His lawyer Husnu Suood called Sunday’s brief preliminary hearing “arbitrary” after the presiding judge conceded that he was not following the suspended criminal procedures law.
But the law will dictate proceedings once the state of emergency expires, Judge Ahmed Hailam said, granting the defence five days to prepare.
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