Criminal Court accuses minister, top police officials of influencing judges

The Criminal Court has accused Home Minister Ali Ihusan and top police officials of attempting to influence the court’s judges.

The police had held a press conference on April 4, after two suspects charged in connection to a 2021 counter-drug operation that led to the seizure of over 100 kilos of heroin were acquitted.

In a press statement on Monday, the Criminal Court said Ihusan, along with Chief Superintendent Ahmed Shakir, Chief Inspector Ahmed Waheed and Sub-inspector Mamdhooh Hassan influenced the court’s judges, undermined their safety and security of judges, and were in contempt of the court.

The court said its Council of Judges had scheduled an emergency meeting for 01:00 pm on Thursday to make a decision regarding the case.

The drug trafficking case in question involves the seizure of drugs from the trunk of a taxi in Male’ City on December 12, 2021. The drugs were found in a carboard box in the trunk.

The police found more drugs in a car in Hulhumale’, and other properties.

The operation led to the seizure of 119 kilos of heroin.

In a press conference on April 4, following public backlash over the acquittal of the suspects, the police gave a detailed account of the drug operation and the involvement of four suspects, supported by video footage.

The four suspects in question are:

• Ali Zubair, Guleynooramaage, GDh. Hoadedhdhoo
• Ahmed Sunain, Irumatheege, GDh. Hoadedhdhoo
• Ahmed Mujahidh, Allora, GDh. Hoadedhdhoo
• Mohamed Akram Abdul Hannan, Dhoadhi, GDh. Hoadedhdhoo

Charges were pressed against only three of the suspects, Ali Zubair, Sunain and Mujahidh.

The Criminal Court issued its ruling in the case on March 20. It found Ali Zubair guilty of the charge, and sentenced him to a life term of 25 years in prison, and imposed a fine of MVR 100,000.

Meanwhile, Sunain and Mujahidh were acquitted. The latter is the elder brother of alleged drug kingpin Arshad Khalid, Allora, GDh. Hoadedhdhoo – who the police believe to be the leader of the drug trafficking ring.

In the press conference, the police expressed concern that the majority of the suspects walked free, insisting that there was enough evidence to convict them.