Criminal Court exonerates Riyaz

Criminal Court has exonerated Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz from the charge of deliberately obstructing a law enforcement officer from performing his duty.

All three judges who presided over the case issued verdicts of “not guilty”, noting the disparities between the testimonies provided by the police officers who were the State witnesses in the case.

They also ruled that Riyaz was detained by the police from Maaveyo Magu on March 27 in violation of Article 13 of Immunities and Authority of Parliamentarians Act.

The article reads that a member of People’s Majlis can only be detained for a criminal

investigation under court order of a superior or higher court, unless caught committing a criminal offense. And that such a court order will be requested by the Prosecutor General.

Officers asked for the PIN code of Riyaz’s phone after he was detained and taken to the police headquarters on March 27.

Criminal Court noted that the Criminal Procedure Act stated that a mobile phone of a suspect cannot be confiscated without any evidence supporting the crime he/she is suspected of.

The regulation by which the mobile phone of a suspect cannot be confiscated without any evidence supporting the crime was implemented after Criminal Procedure Act took effect.

Criminal Court ruled that though Riyaz’s phone was confiscated before Criminal Procedure Act took effect, Riyaz was allowed the right to exercise the regulation as Article 59 of

Constitution dictated that a suspect was allowed the right to enjoy a less strict policy allowed through a law made later.