Court rules Wisam “not guilty” of second obstruction charge

Criminal Court has ruled RajjeTV journalist Mohamed Wisam isn’t guilty of the second obstruction charge against him.

Wisam was charged with obstruction of law enforcement officers for an incident which took place on March 25, 2015 during a protest in Male’ City.

The charge reads that Wisam forced his way through barricades put up by police between the streets Boduthakurufaanu Magu and Mohamed Ismail Didi Goalhi and obstructed police officers when they arrested a protester, demanding to know why he was being arrested.

During the sentencing hearing this Tuesday, the judge said video footage submitted by State prosecution was questionable as it had been cut in places.

The judge said the video footage did not show Wisam being arrested, but showed him being taken away after being arrested.

The judge also said that the press wasn’t barred from entering into the barricaded area, and that Wisam had a press pass on him.

He said that testimony provided by State witnesses contradicted the testimony provided by witnesses in defense.

Wisam was recently fined MVR 28,800 for a separate obstruction charge.