MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor transferred to prison

Henveyru-South MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor, who was sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court by the Criminal Court, has been transferred to prison.

The sentence was delivered on 31 October, but Hamid was kept under house arrest until now.

Hamid was given the six month prison sentence when he failed to be present in court after being summoned, for the trial of a case filed by the State for refusal to provide a urine sample after he was accused of using alcohol.

Hamid’s transfer from house arrest to prison came following a Supreme Court ruling yesterday, whereby it declared that MPs who have been given a sentence for a criminal offence cannot participate in parliament sittings.

The Supreme Court also said in its ruling yesterday that MPs who have been detained by the police on suspicion of crimes, also cannot participate in parliament sittings.

Hamid has appealed the six month prison sentence against him in High court, and the Parliament Privileges Committee has passed that the parliament should intervene in this case.