Criminal Court on Sunday concluded hearings in South-Galolhu MP Ahmed Mahloof’s trial over obstruction of police.
The State’s charges say, on April 3, last year, the lawmaker refused orders to enter a police vehicle and tried to flee after he was being taken to court for a remand hearing.
The hearing saw testimonies from five police officers and that of two defence witnesses. Law enforcement officers testified in court that the lawmaker refused orders and tried to flee. This was however refuted by the lawmaker’s defence witnesses. The court has yet to announce a date to a deliver on the case.
If found guilty, the lawmaker could face a fine of around MVR12,000 or a 6-month imprisonment. The lawmaker would however not lose his Parliament seat even if convicted.
The Constitution stipulates that a Parliament seat will be declared vacant when the sitting lawmaker receives a sentence of more than one year for a criminal offense.