Jailed former vice president Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor on Thursday asked the judge presiding over the new graft trial to recuse himself claiming conflict of interest.
The former VP has been charged with nine separate counts of corruption over the undue lease of nine island for tourism development.
Adheeb during the first hearing of the trial expressed concern over Judge Adam Arif presiding over the case claiming that the judge Arif who had worked with prosecutors as a state attorney during an earlier trial.
Judge Arif had however denied working the graft case of which Adheeb was convicted and sentenced but admitted to having worked other cases involving the defendant.
The judge had asked the defence to submit the request in writing but promised to recuse himself if sufficient grounds were found to do so.
Adheeb is serving 33 years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of terrorism and graft while if convicted of the new charges he could face 25 more years in prison.
