Appeal hearings over Qasim’s detention ends

High Court has concluded appeal hearings over the detention of Jumhoory Party (JP) Leader and Maamingili MP, Qasim Ibrahim over bribery allegation.

Criminal Court remanded Qasim to 15 days in police custody over bribery on March 21 – a decision appealed at High Court.

Qasim’s lawyers noted four points of contention during the appeal hearing this Sunday.

The lawyers said the judge who remanded Qasim to 15 days was the same judge who issued the order for his arrest. The lawyers argued that it was irregular.

The lawyers noted that the request for Qasim to be remanded to custody for 15 days was made by the police, in violation of the law on immunity which dictates that the request in the situation should have been made by the Prosecutor General.

The lawyers also argued that the decision to remand Qasim to police custody was made when the police had no evidence to back their claim.

Qasim is accused of using different forms of influence for a no-confidence motion against the

Speaker of Majlis – which requires the backing of minimum 42 lawmakers.

Police reported that Qasim was first arrested as a suspect for allegedly bribing fellow lawmakers in the no-confidence motion against Speaker of People’s Majlis Abdulla Maseeh

Mohamed – which failed on March 27 – and attempting to influence the no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker of People’s Majlis Reeko Moosa Manik.

Qasim has three charges pressed against him in the case; attempted bribery, using influence in executing responsibilities of an official position and attempting to influence a voter.