Police summon minister for questioning
Sawad-Thoyyib-Maldives by Ibrahim Mohamed, Minivan News
A minister and state minister were summoned to the police station for questioning on the request of criminal court following a poll on state television earlier this month, which the court deemed disrespectful towards the judiciary.
Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad, the minister of tourism, arts and culture, and Thoyyib Mohamed Waheed, the state minister, were questioned along with the programme’s presenter, Adam Miqdhah, and Ibrahim Khaleel, the managing director of the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation.
The court requested a police investigation on 10 June after Television Maldives (TVM) aired a programme, “Q&A with Miqdhah”, asking viewers whether they thought the ongoing legal dispute over Herathera Resort remained unresolved because the courts were too slow; 70 per cent of viewers said yes.
Speaking to Minivan News today, Sawad said police informed him they wanted to verify a few details, but he chose to remain silent.
“I was quite surprised. I didn’t expect it in this day and age, when we are struggling for our fundamental rights for freedom.”
Sawad said he could not comment on the programme as he had not watched it.
Miqdad said he too chose to remain silent during the police interrogation. He added he was unsure whether the investigation was being conducted because of the views expressed on the show or the poll.
TVM Deputy General Mohamed Asif said he did not understand why the investigation was necessary.
“From Haveeru Daily, I learnt that the judge wanted to clarify whether we had disrespected the court on purpose,” he said.
In an interview with the newspaper on 11 June, Judge Abdullah Mohamed said the poll would tarnish the reputation of the judiciary and foster a perception that the courts were incompetent.
The president’s office released a statement today, expressing concern over Sawad being questioned by police.
“At a time when international parties have noted that the media is very free in the Maldives and are congratulating the country for it, the president believes incidents like this could negatively impact their view of the country,” the statement reads. “Further, this is an obstacle to ministers freely carrying out their responsibilities.”
