Qasim’s hearing to be closed

Criminal Court has announced the hearing scheduled for this Tuesday in Jumhoory Party leader Qasim Ibrahim’s bribery trial will be closed.

The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 pm.

The last hearing held in the trial – on the night of July 25 – was also closed. Criminal Court did not disclose a reason for the decision and the hearing was cut short due to Qasim’s poor health.

The original case against Qasim for bribery was thrown out by Criminal Court after State prosecutors failed to show up for a hearing. At that time, it was overseen by a bench of three judges.

The State re-filed the case with no changes to the original charges.

The case is now overseen by Judge Adam Areef who announced during the hearing held on the morning of July 25 that the trial will continue from where it was previously left off.