Hearing for former president's envoy Zaki cancelled

Criminal Court has cancelled the hearing for former President's Special Envoy Ibrahim Hussain Zaki's case for use of cannabis and refusal to provide urine samples to the authorities following his arrest from Hondaidhoo in November last year.

Media official at the Criminal Court Ahmed Mohamed Manik said the hearing was cancelled after being scheduled for 9:00 a.m. this morning.

Zaki was arrested on suspicion of being intoxicated in Haa Dhaalu Hondaidhoo around 4:30 a.m. on 17 November 2012.

According to Article 108 (c) of the Drugs Act, a person convicted of using cannabis may be sentenced to 15 years in prison, in addition to a fine between MVR 25,000 and MVR 500,000.

Article 106 (c) of the Drugs Act levies life-time prison sentence, in addition to a fine of between MVR 100,000 and MVR10 million, for trafficking cannabis.

Refusing to provide urine samples to the authorities carries a sentence of one year in prison.