Motion submitted to suspend Nazim Sattar’s license to practice

A case has been submitted to the Bar Council of the Maldives asking to temporarily suspend the license of Nazim Sattar, who is allegedly seen in some of the videos of men engaging in sexual activities.

The request submitted by lawyer Ahmed Thalib stated that since an investigation into the case was ongoing, to suspend Nazim’s license to practice law until his innocence is proven.

Moreover, the letter sent by Thalib to the President of the Bar Council noted that Nazim was practising law, operating law firms, and doing other work pertaining to the legal field after obtaining necessary permits from the Bar Council.

However, since a criminal investigation has commenced by authorities against him due to the nature of the videos circulated, it might change society’s view of lawyers and lose trust.

“While such issues have surfed about Nazim, and the investigations are ongoing, his presence and practising law in the courts of Maldives would cause people to lose their faith towards lawyers and the Bar Council…”

Furthermore, it stated that this could result in irrevocable damages to the Bar Council. Hence, the letter asked to consider this issue with utmost seriousness.

Over a week after Police commenced their investigations into the video of Nazim, a Spokesperson for the authority told Sun that the investigation was still ongoing. 

The spokesperson also stated that an additional “update” cannot be disclosed at the moment.

Videos and photos of multiple high-profile individuals engaging in sexual relations were leaked on social media in June.

The first was a video which allegedly shows Ahmed Nazim Abdul Sattar, a prominent lawyer and the younger brother of Parliament speaker, former president Mohamed Nasheed, engaging in sexual relations with a Bangladeshi man.

The second was a photo which allegedly shows South Henveiru MP Hussain Shaheem (Andhun Hussain) naked on a bed with a man and a woman.

The third was a video which allegedly shows former journalist Abdulla Naseer Ibrahim engaging in sexual activities with another man.

A fourth person to be caught up in this is the Former Parliamentarian of Nolhivarum constituency Mohamed Nasheed (Colonel Nasheed). He was in the same room seen in the previous videos that were leaked on social media in the first video of him. A second part released multiple days later indicated that he too may have engaged in sexual activities.