Court denies Faris’ request for third-party examination of evidence

Criminal Court has denied Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon’s request to allow a third party to independently examine the forensic evidence against him in his bribery trial.

The request was not objected by the State prosecution during the past two hearings held in the trial. And the judge allowed for it.

However, during the hearing held this Wednesday, the State prosecutor said allowing a third party examination of the forensic evidence will delay the trial process. She said such a request had not been previously granted to a defendant. She said that allowing Faris the request while others may not be able to afford such a process was unfair.

Faris’ attorney, Maumoon Hameed responded that the defense has already come to agreement to run an independent examination of the forensic evidence with an Indian firm. He said there was no legal barrier to running an independent examination.

Maumoon Hameed said every defendant should have the opportunity to run an independent examination of evidence, and that denying Faris the opportunity in the name of fairness was unacceptable.

Making his decision over the request, Judge Ali Adam said there was no other party which ran forensic investigations in Maldives. And that there was no law stating the procedure for handing over police evidence to another party. He said he therefore cannot grant Faris’ request for a third party examination of the evidence.

Judge Ali Adam also made his decision over pretrial motions filed in the case during this Wednesday’s hearing.

Faris lost all 23 of his pretrial motions. While the State was allowed its motion for anonymity of the State’s witnesses.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled to be held on February 4. Both the State and the defense will submit its evidence during the hearing.