Police: Thinadhoo magistrate’s print not there in packet containing drugs

Police said in appeal hearing in Supreme Court on Wednesday that the cellophane packet containing drugs found lying on the ground from where G. Dh. Thinadhoo Court magistrate Ibrahim Rasheed was arrested did not have his fingerprint.

The hearing at Supreme Court on Wednesday was regarding appeal of High Court’s decision to release Ibrahim Rasheed when he was taken there on May 28 for remand hearing.

State prosecutor noted that some of the police who arrested Ibrahim Rasheed had specifically seen him throw away the cellophane packet.

She said that the magistrate was therefore arrested from the scene of the crime, and that the state did not feel a court order was necessary if a magistrate is arrested from the scene of a crime.

Ibrahim Rasheed described what took place that night, saying that police officers jumped him while he was walking down the street “like a hungry lion pounces on small mice.”

He said that he did not make any movement other than to hold his hands behind his head.

Ibrahim Rasheed denied the accusation by police that he was seen throwing away a cellophane packet, saying that he did not have any such item on him at the time.

He said that police had found the packet 11 feet away from where he was standing, 11 minutes after his arrest. And questioned why police had not found the packet when he allegedly threw it.

Ibrahim Rasheed said that it was illogical to think that such a small cellophane packet could be thrown to that distance.

He said that it was not the first time for police to check or arrest him. He said that he was arrested and checked under allegations he was smuggling drugs – once at the airport, and once after coming to Male’ from the airport.

Police said that they had received intelligence that Ibrahim Rasheed was involved in narcotics, and that they had not had enough time to get a court order through Prosecutor General’s Office for his arrest.

And that they had acted with the thinking their operation would fail and they would lose the evidence if they waited for a court order.

Ibrahim Rasheed’s defense attorney said that police had not made any effort to obtain an order for his client’s arrest – as was prescribed in the law.

He said that police had admitted in High Court that they had not had any discussions with PG

Office regarding the case even when Ibrahim Rasheed was taken there for his remand hearing.

“Actions of the police show they tried to undermine the Judges Act,” accused the defense attorney, requesting that Supreme Court uphold High Court’s decision to release Ibrahim Rasheed.

State has asked that Supreme Court overrule High Court’s decision, and grant the police 15-day remand period for him.

Judicial Services Commission has suspended Ibrahim Rasheed as he is under investigation.