Prominent lawyer Hussein Shameem has said on Twitter that he disagrees with the Criminal Court’s decision to detain former President Yameen till his trial is over.
In a pre-trial hearing held on Monday afternoon, the Criminal Court granted the PG’s request to detain the former president till the end of his trial.
Replying to someone who said that he dislikes the fact that President Yameen was detained till the end of his trial, Mr.Shameem said that he dislikes it as well and often it is abused.
Another man who supported the decision said that suspects of fraud cases which involves “high amounts of money” should be under custody. Mr.Shameem disagreed with the man as well pointing out that the investigations should be based on intelligence work and investigating after arresting is uncommon in modern times.
He also responded to others who claimed that the former President is a flight risk and that he threatened witnesses. Mr.Shameem said that confiscating the passport will minimize flight risk and that if the evidence against Mr.Yameen is documentary evidence influencing it shouldn’t be an issue.
Activists of the ruling party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) responded to Mr.Shameem saying that he is now interested in representing the former president and he should go ahead with it.
In the last few years, Mr.Shameem represented many high profile clients including former president Mr.Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom who is also the half brother of former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom.
Mr.Shameem stated on Twitter that he does not intend to represent former President Yameen.