The Criminal Court has scheduled the trial of Adhadhu News CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and Editor Hassan Mohamed to commence this coming Monday. The case involves allegations of defamation regarding a documentary produced by the outlet concerning President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

The first hearing is slated for 11:00 AM on Monday and will be conducted as a closed-door session. The Prosecutor General’s Office filed the charges under Section 612 of the Maldivian Penal Code, citing the publication of a video containing false and defamatory information that tarnishes the reputation of the President.

Previously, the Criminal Court issued an injunction ordering the news outlet to cease the circulation of the documentary until a final verdict is reached. While the court warned that failure to comply would be treated as contempt of court, reports indicate that the media organization has continued to disseminate the content in defiance of the order.