Riyaz’s hearing for Monday cancelled

The hearing scheduled at Criminal Court for this Monday in the case against Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz has been cancelled.

Riyaz has been charged with influencing official functions of a public servant.

“Sun” has been informed the hearing, scheduled for 1:30 pm this Monday was cancelled at the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Riyaz was charged following a chat log discovered on his mobile phone with a public servant, when his phone was seized after his arrest on March 27, 2017.

Article 511 (a) of the Penal Code classifies any unlawful communication with a public servant, either direct or indirect, as a criminal offense.

Riyaz faces a minimum 9-month and 18-day prison sentence if convicted.

The opposition lawmaker was also previously charged with obstruction of justice after he refused to provide the PIN code to his phone after it was seized by the police. He was later acquitted of the charge by Criminal Court.

Riyaz is also currently in the middle of another trial. He, along with 12 other opposition lawmakers have also been charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer.

He is currently being kept detained at Maafushi Prison for investigation into alleged complicity in an attempt to overthrow President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration.