Lesser known facts come to light in “Finifenmaa” trial

Lesser known facts pertaining to explosion on board presidential speedboat “Finifenmaa” came to light during Thursday’s hearing on the case.

State prosecution sent a list of 13 anonymous witnesses to court, to prove former Vice President and Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor led the assassination attempt on President Abdulla Yameen with the explosive planted on presidential speedboat “Finifenmaa”.

Revelations:

• President and First Lady’s son travelled on another speedboat the day of the explosion: defense lawyer

• First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim’s name was not included in medico legal report of injured people

• Five anonymous witnesses listed to prove President was trying to fire Adeeb before the explosion

• Adeeb, along with bodyguards stayed alone in “Finifenma” for some time the night Adeeb traveled to Aarah: state

• Adeeb made a plan to flee if the explosion doesn’t work: state

State listed more or less the same evidence to prove the case against Adeeb and his two bodyguards – Hassan Rikaz and Ahmed Amir.

Adeeb, Amir and Rizak. - Sun file photo

State submitted medico legal report of four people who were on board the boat when the explosion occurred. They are:

• Mohamed Abdulla Nasir – Zamaanee Aage, G. Dh. Thinadhoo

• Asima Hassan – M. Croton, Male’

• Ibrahim Muaz Ali – Hazaarumaage, N. Foidhoo

• Fathimath Mohamed Solih – Nooraanee Aage, Lh. Hinnavaru

State prosecutor, Ahmed Hisham Wajeeh said that analysis report of Adeeb’s mobile phone shows that he had made plans to flee if the explosion didn’t work.

He said that Adeeb had used internet on his phone to work on obtaining a visa from a foreign country.

Adeeb waving at reporters before entering Criminal Court for a hearing. Sun file photo: Yoosuf Sofwan

What the defense wants to prove:

• Security check was run after Adeeb travelled on the boat on September 27, 2015, and the security check came up with nothing.

• Security was tightened at the time of the incident because of threats against President and Vice President

• Clarifying procedure for safety checks and proving all procedures were followed

• Adeeb did was not alone in the boat to plant an explosive

• President Maumoon travelled on the speedboat after Adeeb used it

• Adeeb did not request for any specific speedboat to travel to Aarah

• Samples from the boat was taken right after the explosion, it was analyzed and the report sent to committee set up within MNDF, and the report showed no trace of explosives

• No major maintenance work was done on the boat the past two years

• President Yameen said Adeeb needed to be kicked out of the cabinet, and he was assigned some tasks for that effect.

• No chain of custody in taking samples after boat was taken to Aarah

• The explosion was not from an IED

• There was some issue with the engine of the boat, crew drove the boat around to test it during the trip to Aarah on September 27, 2015

Witness testimony on the case will be heard during the hearing scheduled for May 31.