Malé, Maldives – MP of Kedhikulhudhoo Constituency Ahmed Easa’s trial for charges of domestic violence raised against him, scheduled for today at the Criminal Court has been cancelled.
The Criminal Court said that the scheduled hearing was cancelled as the judge overseeing the case was on leave due to medical reasons.
MP Easa allegedly attacked his wife at the time, Asra Naeem (Asoo) during May 2021, who is also the younger sister of Vice President of Maldives, Faisal Naseem and allegedly threatened to throw their child out of the balcony during the incident. Asra, after giving her statements to Police, stated in a Facebook post that the experience is something she never expected to go through.
Later, Asra sent a letter to the Prosecutor General’s Office, requesting not to prosecute MP Easa as she raised the charges against him in anger during a volatile argument.
An official from the Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed that a letter was sent to the office from Asra Naseem for the aforementioned reason. However, specific details of the letter are yet to be revealed. She previously appealed to the police as well, but her request was turned down by the authority.
The prosecution says that the case would go on regardless of whether she wanted to or not because it was a criminal charge which was brought against MP Easa. Police further added that such charges cannot be dropped based on someone request.
Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem said in a press conference yesterday that the aim is to prosecute the case with minimum burden on the victim. He added that he prosecution does not want the victim to be revictimized.
We can win this [domestic violence case against MP Easa] case.
PG Hussain Shameem
Asra stated that she was being influenced by her emotions when she registered the complaint as they got into a heated argument after she found out that MP Easa has a close relationship with another woman. She further detailed the incident in her latest statement to the police and that she wants their child to be prioritised in the case.
If proven guilty, MP Easa can be sentenced to about 6 months in jail or be fined MVR 24,000. The Constitution stated that a parliamentarian maybe removed from his post is sentenced to jail for a period of over one year. However, as MP Easa can be sentenced to maximum 6 months, he will not lose his chair as MP of Kedhikulhudhoo Constituency.
While the parliamentary committee was unable to vote on his dismissal due to an incomplete quorum, MP Easa resigned from the position of Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs, while maintaining that there is no wrongdoing on his part.
He also released a statement announcing his resignation from the post following the allegations and that he fully cooperates with the police and relevant authorities. He also assured the public and especially the people of his constituency that goes against the constitution, rules and regulations of the Maldives.
MDP’s statement also noted that the MDP majority Parliament and relevant committees have begun efforts to monitor the investigation and to decide on initial actions to be taken against MP Easa regarding the current allegations he faces.
