Court disallows Shiyam, Shahid testimony in Papa case

Criminal Court has decided not to allow for testimony of Chief of Defense Force – Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed and Vice Chief of Defense Force – Ahmed Shahid – named by Ahmed Fayaz Ali Riza (Papa) as witnesses in his defense in the trial against him over “Finifenmaa” explosion.

The two charges against Ahmed Fayaz Ali are Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer and Obstrcution of Justice.

Judges presiding over the case said during the hearing on the case held on Tuesday, that the judges did not feel Shiyam and Shahid should be summoned to court as witnesses.

Witness testimonies from the Defence were taken only by those who were also on the witness list of the prosecution.

Aside from Shiyam and Shaahid, Chief Superintendent of Police, Hamdhoon Rasheed was also listed as a defence witness. The Court decided not to take his testimony him either.

While a decision was made not to take the testimony of Chief Superintendent Hamdhoo, Criminal Court has ordered him to appear at the hearing today before the decision was changed.

Lawyer of Fayaz, Mahufooz Saeed said that it was a writing mistake and the correct way is that it was Shiyam that ordered military personnel to board the launch.

He said that even with the written mistake, Fayaz has said in court that Shiyam is being summoned to prove that he gave the order and his testimonies would prove it.

But the Judge said that the writing cannot be amended past this stage since it was not brought to attention earlier.

At the hearing today, testimonies of the closed witnesses were taken.

The closed witness said that he contacted Defence Minister Moosa Ali Jaleel, Home Minister Umar NAseer and Chief of Defence Force, Ahmed Shiyam when he learned that Police could not board the launch.

And he testified that the Defence Minister said that the Police can board and continue working with Fayaz. And the Chief of Defence Force, Ahmed Shiyam said that it would be looked into.

The witness said that Fayaz said that Police can board after EOD team and it was the instruction he received.

Closing the hearing, the Judge said that the summary statement of the case would be on7 June.