Lawyer: Nihan said he could not issue order for president’s arrest

A. Dh. Maamingili Court Chief Magistrate Ahmed Nihan’s lawyer, Husnu Suood has said that some people had gone to Maamingili Court to ask for Nihan to issue an arrest order for

President Abdulla Yameen, but that the request had been denied by him.

Speaking during Monday’s hearing at Criminal Court, Husnu Suood noted that the fact that Nihan had denied the request for court order to arrest Yameen had been told by Nihan to police during interrogation.

The reasons why Nihan has denied all four charges against him was explained by Husnu Suood during the hearing.

He said that Nihan denied the “attempt to carry out a terrorist act” charge against him because he had not attempted to kidnap the President. And that there was nothing in evidence submitted by court to prove he had attempted to carry out such an act.

Nihan has also been charged with making improper use of his authority, doing something inappropriate in carrying out his official duties, and falsification of an official document.

Suood said that Nihan had done nothing illegal. And that he had not made any improper use of his authority.

The hearing ended with the announcement that both prosecution and defense would be allowed during the next hearing on the case.

Former Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin has also been charged in the case.