Court to conclude case against MP Hamid on Thursday, in absentia if necessary

Criminal Court has said that it will conclude the case against Henveiru-south MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor on Thursday, in absentia if Hamid fails to show up in court.

The State has pressed charges against Hamid for refusing to provide a urine sample.

The court said in an announcement today that it made efforts to summon Hamid to court for the trial of the case against him for refusing to provide a urine sample, but found out that Hamid was not residing at the address he had provided to the court. The court said that the efforts to summon him via the relevant State institutions have also failed.

The court has issued two notices to summon Hamid, but in both instances, Hamid chose to stay at the parliament during the hours he was supposed to attend court.

The court has now summoned him again for Thursday, 31 October at 1:00 p.m., and said that if Hamid fails to attend on this date and time, the case will be concluded in absentia as per Article 30 (a) (1) of the Regulation on Court Summons.

The State has accused Hamid of refusing to provide a urine sample, after he was arrested on suspicion of being intoxicated in Haa Dhaalu Hondaidhoo early morning on 17 November 2012.