Journalists Leevan Ali Nasseer and Mohamed Shahzan have petitioned the High Court for an order to stay the execution of jail sentences and fines imposed by the Criminal Court. The case stems from a Criminal Court ruling initiated on the court's own motion regarding an alleged incident of contempt of court.
The Criminal Court had sentenced Leevan to four months and 24 days in prison. However, the court ordered that he serve 10 days in detention, with the remainder of the sentence converted to a fine. He was ordered to pay a total of MVR 26,800 to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within 20 days. The sentence was handed down under Section 533 of the Penal Code.
Similarly, Shahzan was sentenced to four months and 24 days, with the court stipulating that 15 days must be served in detention while the rest was converted to a fine. Shahzan is required to pay a fine of MVR 25,800 to MIRA within a 20-day period.
In their filing to the High Court, the journalists contended that the Criminal Court’s decision was unjust and procedurally flawed. They specifically highlighted that imposing a prison sentence for an incident occurring outside the courtroom—without a criminal investigation and while depriving the accused of fundamental due process—constitutes a direct violation of Article 45 of the Constitution.
Furthermore, the petitioners have requested release on bail under Section 201-1 of the Criminal Procedure Act pending the conclusion of the appeal process. The appeal states that the case has a high probability of legal success and argues that there is no public interest served by their continued detention. It further noted that Leevan and Shahzan are journalists who were sentenced in connection with actions taken during the performance of their professional duties.
