MP Hamid can no longer participate in parliament sittings: Home Ministry

The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that Henveyru-South MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor, who was taken to the prison in Kaafu Maafushi to carry out a six-month prison sentence yesterday (Friday), will not be taken to Male’ for parliament sittings.

The sentence for contempt of court was delivered on 31 October, but Hamid was kept under house arrest until yesterday, and allowed to attend parliament sittings.

He was allowed to participate in parliament sittings because earlier, the Parliament Powers and Privileges Act stated that MPs should be allowed to attend parliament sittings even if they are given a sentence that does not disqualify them as MPs.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Abdulla Mohamed told Sun Online that the decision to disallow Hamid from attending the parliament was made following the annulment of this article in the Parliament Privileges Act by the Supreme Court on Thursday.

“There are no obstructions to keeping Hamid in prison anymore. We are no longer required to ensure his attendance in parliament sittings,” he said.

Hamid was transferred to Maafushi prison on Friday after a medical check-up, under the supervision of the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Service (DPRS).

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.

He stayed inside the parliament premises for 28 days to avoid attending court.

The Supreme Court eventually delivered the sentence against him in absentia, while he was still at the parliament.

The Supreme Court annulled several articles of the Parliament Privileges Act on Thursday.

The court noted that the requirement, that MPs should be able to attend parliament sittings while carrying out prison sentences, undermines Article 49 of the Constitution.