The Court of Appeal has denied former Housing Minister and current People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) presidential hopeful Mohamed Irfaan Ali a stay of his prosecution on the 19 fraud charges levelled against him over the sale of land in the ‘Pradoville 2’ Housing Scheme.
At an in-chamber hearing before Appellate Judge Dawn Gregory yesterday morning, it was announced that Ali’s request for the stay would not be granted.
Justice Gregory explained that having looked at the merits of the appeal, it was clear that it had no arguable prospect of success. She noted that while the Appellate Court can review a charge by virtue of judicial review, that power ought to be exercised sparingly and in extreme circumstances.
