Nasheed urges everyone to reconsider claims against him

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has asked ‘all parties’ to reconsider the criminal charges made against him by the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office pertaining the illegal arrest and subsequent detention of Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed in Girifushi island.

Speaking to reporters before departing Male’ for Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) planned trip ‘Journey of Pledges’ instead of appearing in Court at 16:00 today as summoned, Nasheed said that he does not accept that the claims against him is a ‘trial’, or that a trial will be held against him.

Nasheed refused to respond - even when asked repeatedly - whether he had obtained permission of Hulhumale’ Court to leave Male’. He instead insisted that the Courts need to be reformed.

When asked if his refusal to attend Court might adversely impact him in the upcoming presidential election, Nasheed said that there is ‘no reason why it should affect the elections’.

Nasheed said that while numerous cases had been sent to PG Office, only cases against him have been filed to Court.

“All of a sudden charges are being pressed against us, a separate Court is created, separate Judges are being appointed – I don’t see justice being done this way,” he said.

The Court had issued travel restrictions on Nasheed, forcing him to seek Court permission if he wishes to leave Male’ until the pending trials against him are completed. MDP said that Nasheed did not attend Court today in accordance with the resolution passed by the party, which states that Court decisions should not be recognised.