Lawyers: Three hours is also insufficient to meet with President Nasheed

Although the government has allowed three hour meetings with the former President Mohamed Nasheed for his lawyers, the former President’s legal team has said that they need even more time.

Speaking to the press at the MDP office, lawyer Safa Shareef from President Nasheed’s legal team said that they believe that the government has made things easier for the appeal case but the three hours allocated by the government is still not enough time.

“But we want to note that even if we meet for three hours, it would be difficult to research all the relevant documents of the case and give adequate counsel.” Lawyer Safa Rasheed said.

And so the lawyers have requested the government that President Nasheed be released to house arrest as per the letter from the Correctional Service that said that the former President was moved to house arrest on 19 July.

The sentence from the Criminal Court against the former President has now been appealed at the Supreme Court.

Points presented at the appeal:

• Retracting the terrorism charges against President Nasheed

• Overrule the sentence against President Nasheed by the Criminal Court

• If the Supreme Court deems the arrest of Judge Abdulla a crime, press charges under the new penal code

While the PG (Prosecutor General’s) Office has now appealed the case of President Nasheed at the Supreme Court, the court has now accepted the case.