“Finifenma” explosion hearing cancelled again

Hearing on explosion onboard presidential speedboat “Finifenma”, rescheduled to Wednesday, has been cancelled again.

“Sun” has been informed that Wednesday’s hearing was cancelled as Maumoon Moosa – defense attorney for one of the defendants – Hassan Rikaz (Ma. Sigma, Male’) is out of town.

Maumoon spoke to “Sun” and said that he travelled to Sh. Funadhoo with Criminal Court’s permission to attend hearing scheduled at Funadhoo Court for Wednesday and Thursday, after Tuesday’s hearing in “Finifenma” case was cancelled.

“Criminal Court called last night while I was all the way out in Kaashidhoo Ocean with their permission. Called and said the hearing was scheduled for 10 am, today. I said I was at sea, and that the boat was travelling towards Sh. Funadhoo. And that I cannot, therefore, attend the hearing in the morning,” said Maumoon.

Combined file photos of (From L-R) Amir, Rikaz and Adeeb.

He said that Criminal Court called a second time and told him to attend the hearing at 10 am, Thursday, upon which he informed the court that he already had a hearing scheduled at Funadhoo Court for Thursday.

“I told them I had a hearing scheduled for tomorrow at Funadhoo Court as well. And they said they’ll cancel that hearing, and to come to Male’,” said Maumoon.

Maumoon said that he would cooperate with Criminal Court and set off to Male’ on Wednesday.

Rikaz and Ahmed Amir (Afza, L. Dhanbidhoo) - who used to work as bodyguards for former Vice President and Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor – along with Adeeb himself, stand accused of deliberately setting off an explosion onboard “Finifenma” to assassinate

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

State witness testimony will be heard during the next hearing.