Criminal Court has sentenced Galolhu South MP Ahmed Mahloof to serve four months and 24 days in jail on charges of obstruction of duties. He was sentenced guilty in a secret hearing held today.
The charges raised against MP Mahloof said that he had attempted to flee Police custody in April 2015, when he was brought to Court for remand hearings.
Even though Mahloof had been sentenced guilty, he will not lose his seat in the Parliament as his sentence did not exceed the threshold of one year. He will be taken to Parliament sessions by Correctional Services officers but will be barred from sitting in Committee sessions.
Mahloof's lawyer, Abdullah Haseen said that after the remand hearings many had gathered there to express their support for Mahloof. He said Mahloof had waited to greet his supporters and his wife. But the Police had prevented him from doing so and Mahloof had resisted but had not attempted to flee.
However, the state witnesses had testified that Mahloof had refused to board the Police vehicle and had run towards Hilaaleege, away from the vehicle. Two journalists who had testified on behalf of Mahloof said he had not attempted to flee but had sought out greet his wife.
The other obstruction of duty charges were raised on Mahloof for crossing Police barricades to a cordoned off area. The Court will soon deliver the summary charges on the MP.
