Witness testimony against Adeeb postponed in terror case

Criminal Court has postposed witness testimony against former Vice President and Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor in the terrorism case against him.

Adeeb was charged with terrorism after he allegedly showed two pistols and three bullets to two people who visited the home of Adeeb’s younger wife – G. Humashi – on May 1, 2015 - while the opposition protest had been ongoing.

It was scheduled to hear witness testimony against Adeeb during Sunday’s hearing.

However, some of the witnesses failed to attend court and the judge made the decision to postpone witness testimony so that all testimony could be heard in one day.

State prosecutor requested permission to present another document as evidence against Adeeb during Sunday’s hearing.

The prosecutor said that it was a document prepared by police and Maldives National Defense Force officers who were sent abroad.

Adeeb’s lawyer said that he did not believe that any more evidence could be submitted at this stage.

Judge Muhuthaz Fahmy said that the decision on whether to accept the new document as evidence would be decided after discussion between the judges overseeing the case.

President Abdulla Yameen’s former right-hand man, Adeeb, maintained his innocence during the previous hearing, denying the charge against him.

State has three witnesses to prove Adeeb’s guilt. Two being people who say they saw the pistols and bullets from Adeeb’s wife’s house, and the third person claiming to have seen Adeeb handling the pistol another day.