ZCZC
BFF-34
MALDIVES-POLITICS-COURT-ELECTION
Maldives court rejects Yameen’s secret witnesses
COLOMBO, Oct 16, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The Maldives’ top court rejected on
Tuesday three “secret” witnesses offered by President Abdulla Yameen in his
petition to have his September election defeat annulled, in what is likely a
major blow to his case.
The refusal came as the Supreme Court concluded its hearings, which also
saw Yameen allege disappearing ink was used on ballot papers, and said it
would deliver its verdict at an unspecified later date.
Lawyers for Yameen, who was beaten in the election despite all his main
rivals being in prison or in exile, had said the three unnamed witnesses
would reveal how the vote was rigged.
The country’s independent Elections Commission (EC) through its lawyers
argued Yameen’s petition was based on false allegations and should be
dismissed.
Local media also reported four of the five election commissioners have
fled the country and sought refuge in neighbouring Sri Lanka following death
threats after Yameen lost the election.
Despite Yameen’s main competitors being out of the way and the media in
his pocket, he was beaten by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the joint candidate of
the beleaguered opposition.
Under pressure from abroad, Yameen initially conceded defeat and said he
would stand down on November 17, but then last week filed his petition — and
despite the threat of sanctions.
Yameen’s lawyer Mohamed Saleem told the court that the printer of ballot
papers of coating them with an unnamed substance that made votes marked in
Yameen’s box disappear.
Saleem said a “special pen with disappearing ink” was also given to people
who were going to vote for his client.
Counting officials also allegedly carried secret pens, in the form of rings
on their fingers, which they used to mark ballots for the opposition.
Opposition lawyer Hisan Hussain said the entire challenge was based on
“pure conspiracy theories”.
“Pen rings and disappearing ink are fanciful. The only thing missing from
the case are magic carpets,” she told reporters after the hearing concluded.
She insisted that Yameen had not presented any “real evidence” to back his
claims of vote rigging and fraud.
Ahead of the court hearing in the capital Male, the United States had
warned “appropriat measures” would be taken if the will of the Maldivian
people was undermined.
Europe and India have also issued similar warnings in the past.
The US and its allies have been concerned by growing Chinese influence in
the strategically positioned Indian Ocean archipelago, especially under
Yameen’s authoritarian rule.
BSS/AFP/RY/1458 hrs