Saturday
27th Apr 2024
Dhivehi Edition
President Yameen speaking to Dr.Jameel. Photo: TMJ
Former Vice President and head of former President Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s legal team Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has revealed that the former president chose to remain silent when questioned by the Presidential Commission on Deaths and Enforced Disappearances (DDCom) as the commission was unable to specify the charges against him.
Dr. Jameel stated that once President Yameen’s legal team was in attendance, the commission claimed that a maximum of two lawyers is allowed to be present. He highlighted that it is a violation of article 51 of the Criminal Procedure Code that DDCom has to abide by under the presidential commission’s laws.
“The number of lawyers is determined by a regulation. They have no such regulation. How can they decrease the number of lawyers? But they said this is how the commission has always operated”, said Dr. Jameel.
The former vice president also stated that there is no issue with choosing to remain silent, as it is a constitutional right for anyone being questioned without being accused of a crime.
According to Dr. Jameel, it is concerning how commission member Misbah Abbas has been sharing details of President Yameen’s summons with media in support of the government such as Raajje TV. He revealed that Misbah withdrew from the case once the lawyers expressed their belief that he could not remain impartial in the investigation.
DDCom protested against Dr. Jameel’s involvement in the case as he previously defended another suspect in relation to the same case, and the commission was against an additional member of the legal team being present at the questioning.
Dr. Jameel speculated that DDCom is attempting to scare President Yameen with nonexistent accusations.
Commission member Misbah has been informing local media that it is concerning how President Yameen chose to remain silent. He insinuated that remaining silent was interfering with the investigation into missing Rilwan.
DDCom has previously stated that President Yameen had no ties to the disappearance of Rilwan.