Thinaadhoo Mayor Saad Ali Granted Additional Time to Appoint Lawyer

An additional hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday of next week, and the court has granted Thinaadhoo City Mayor Saad Ali an additional opportunity to appoint a lawyer by the end of that day. In the case where it is alleged that designating Thinaadhoo as a city was contrary to the law, the Office of the Attorney General has filed two charges against Saad: issuing a false document despite knowing it, and providing false information to official institutions. If proven, Saad faces a jail sentence of up to two years. The first hearing related to the charges concluded on the fifth of last October. A subsequent hearing scheduled for last Thursday was cancelled because Saad was unable to appear. Today's hearing saw Saad state that he received the latest documents only upon appearing in court and requires more time to study them, and that he still does not have a lawyer. According to Judge Ahmed Shafeeu, the court had instructed Saad administratively on the fifth of last month to appoint a lawyer. When Saad requested more time to appoint a lawyer from the city administration, that time was granted, but when the court contacted the administrative desk, the person who answered Saad's phone was someone else. Saad stated he was in an official meeting when the court called. The judge noted that apologies for failing to appear can be shared with the court in advance. State lawyers noted the charge is not a major criminal offense and requested the judge decide on granting Saad an additional opportunity to appoint a legal lawyer. Judge Shafeeu stated that for next Tuesday's hearing, Saad must present witnesses' information and his response to the charge together with the lawyers. The judge concluded that another hearing will take place on the 10th of this month.