High court dismissed appeal after the former president refused to attend hearing

The High Court has dismissed the appeal by the leader of MDP and the former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed has submitted to High court to overrule the court order by the Criminal Court for the his arrest after the former president refused to attend the hearing.

The media official of the high court Amin Faisal said the appeal was dismissed within the court laws.

The High Court has said that only family members and lawyers of the former president Mohamed Nasheed can attend the hearing which was previously scheduled for today.

Regarding the former president’s refusal to attend the hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. today, Ahmed Abdulla Afeef from his team of lawyers said that President Nasheed requested the appeal to be held at open court and if the hearings are to be held in secret, he cannot attend the hearing.

Ahmed Abdulla Afeef said that the former president requested as such because the constitution allows the hearings to be held in open court.

High court said that the judges have the power under the Constitution Article 42-C and the Law of Courts Article 71-B to hold part of or all of the hearing in secret.

“In this case, no entry has been granted aside from the family of Mohamed Nasheed G. Canary was decided by the power granted to the judges because the circumstances mention on the Constitution Article 42-C and the Law of Courts Article 71-B(3) are present in the case.” High Court said.

The High Court said that they have issued that the hearings would be closed in appeals such as arrests.