The High Court has begun hearing an appeal regarding Ali Nadheem, who was arrested on suspicion of being a leader in a major drug trafficking network in Addu City.

Nadheem’s lawyer argues that his detention was ordered during a secret court hearing held without a valid reason, which they claim violates the Constitution.

Nadheem was one of five individuals arrested on December 3 following a police operation based on an investigation that began in March. The Hithadhoo Magistrate Court initially ordered him to be held in custody for 30 days.

His lawyers are now asking the High Court to nullify this order, citing Article 42 of the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to a fair and public hearing.

During the High Court proceedings, Nadheem’s lawyer, Ibrahim Shameel, stated that there was no justification provided by the police to keep the hearing closed to the public.

He argued that neither the defendant nor the court seemed to know exactly when or why the session was made private. Shameel described the decision as a departure from the principles of justice and claimed the order was legally invalid.

In response, State Prosecutor Ahmed Naushad argued that conducting the hearing in a way that might conflict with Article 42 is not a sufficient reason to cancel the detention order. The state maintained that the law does not strictly require a detailed explanation for closing a hearing if it was requested by one party, and they asked the High Court to uphold the current detention.

High Court has concluded the hearings for this appeal. The judges will now deliberate and issue a final ruling on whether the 30-day detention order will stand or be overturned.