Habeas petition filed over Faris’ detention

A petition for writ of habeas corpus has been filed with Criminal Court on behalf of MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon over his detention.

The petition was filed by Faris’ attorneys who claim his detention is unlawful.

Faris was arrested last Saturday, just two days after he was granted conditional release by the Criminal Court, having spent six months in detention.

He is accused of bribing parliamentarians in a conspiracy to topple the current administration.

The attorneys alleged in the habeas petition that the warrant for Faris’ arrest was obtained outside the normal Criminal Court practice. And that the arrest warrant was enforced in disregard to rulings issued by higher courts.

The petition was filed with the court in accordance with Article 207 (a) (v) of Criminal Procedure Code, which allows for anyone arrested under court order to submit a writ of habeas corpus.

A person can report an unlawful detention or imprisonment to a court and request that the court order the custodian of the person to bring the prisoner to court, to determine whether the detention is lawful.

Faris was remanded to 15 days in detention by the Criminal Court last Saturday night.