High-ranking representatives from the local news organization Adhadhu have entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ concerning the criminal allegations made against them.

Adhadhu's CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and editor Hassan Mohamed have been charged with Qazf, an Islamic criminal offense related to false claims of adultery, linked to a documentary the outlet published on March 28.

The accusations against them were submitted to the Criminal Court on May 10, which initiated pretrial hearings on May 13.

The accusations against them were presented at a hearing on Monday. Fiyaz and Hassan, who are prohibited from traveling abroad until July 26, pleaded “not guilty.”

Next, both parties will present their evidence.

The proceedings against the Adhadhu officials are taking place in private.

On April 27, the police raided Adhadhu’s office in Male’ City, confiscating several electronic devices, such as laptops and hard drives. The court has ordered the news organization to provide the police with the passwords for the devices. Nevertheless, Adhadhu declined to disclose it, stating the necessity to safeguard their source.

On May 12, two reporters from Adhadhu, Mohamed Shahzan and Leeval Ali Naseer, were jailed on contempt of court charges for breaching a comprehensive gag order imposed by the Criminal Court related to the case.