Hailam: Najeeb asked me to jail ex-President Yameen

Former Chief Judge of Criminal Court Ahmed Hailam has denied allegations made by Criminal Court Judge Hassan Najeeb, stating Najeeb asked him to jail former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

In a press conference by a team of lawyers and former judges last Saturday, Najeeb spoke of alleged conversations between Hailam – who had originally been in charge of hearing the money laundering case against Yameen - and President’s Office Chief of Staff Ali Zahir.

Najeeb said that he cannot forget the conversations between Ali Zahir and Hailam when he had been in charge of Yameen’s trial. Najeeb said that Hailam once entered his cabin while on the phone with Ali Zahir, and he overheard Hailam saying that was hearing reports Husnu Al Suood was getting appointed to the Supreme Court.

Hailam told Sun this Sunday that he condemns the false allegations Najeeb made regarding him to show his concern over Yameen’s trial.

“Ali Zahir did not call me in Najeeb’s presence as he says and it did not happen like that. Ali Zahir did not call me in Najeeb’s presence,” he said.

Hailam said he does not know that they were talking about. He said he never bowed down to pressure due to fear of losing his position, or talked to someone and allowed them to influence a judgement he issued to secure his position.

“I would have had to lose my job if I had such an understanding with someone. Now some judges wanted to secure their position even if they had to compromise anyone, including President Yameen. They are saying what they are saying today because they lost their position,” he said.