Chairman of the Mahdia Commission of Inquiry (COI), retired Major General Joe Singh has summoned the Chief Education Officer, Saddam Hussain and the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Thomas to appear before the Commission, after the top-ranking officials failed to make an appearance this morning.

Counsel to the Commission, Keoma Griffith told the Commissioners that Hussain and Thomas were scheduled to testify this morning, however, without any explanation, they failed to make an appearance.

“We expected two persons to testify before you this morning [but] for reasons unbeknown to me, they are not here. I had expected these persons to appear much earlier in the week, and for some reason, they have not attended to this Commission to answer questions,” Griffith told the Commissioners.

Given the repeated failure of Hussain and Thomas to appear before the Commission, Attorney Griffith called on the Commission to invoke its powers under the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Act, and summon the two government officials to make an appearance on Tuesday, October 10.

“I am therefore asking this Commission to exercise, its powers under the Act for summons to be issued for Mr Saddam Hussain, the Chief Education Officer as well as Ms Mae Thomas, who is the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs. I am asking that summons to be issued for these persons,” Griffith said as he made his application before the Commission.

After a brief consultation, the Chairman of the Commission granted permission for the summons to be issued.

The three-member Commission has been investigating the circumstances surrounding the deadly fire that claimed the lives of 20 children in May when the Mahdia Secondary School Female Dormitory went up in flames.

The Commission of Inquiry has already heard from a number of key witnesses including survivors from the blaze and officials of the Fire Service.

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