Adheeb sentenced to 15 years, his bodyguards - ten years in the Presidential Launch explosion

Criminal Court has sentenced the former Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Gafoor to 15 years and he two body guards to ten years in prison after being found guilty of detonating an IED onboard the Presidential Launch “Finifenma”.

The two bodyguards of the former Vice President who get ten year prison sentences are Hassan Rikaz and Ahmed Amir.

Adheeb was found guilty in the two charges the state brought forth against him which is the charge of terrorism and misuse of official authority.

Former Vice President was charged with misuse of official authority because he went on board the Presidential Launch to plant an IED. The terrorism charge was for the explosion which damaged the vessel and injured the people on board.

Adheeb’s two bodyguards were charged with terrorism alone.

Proceedings of the case:

• Then Vice President was arrested on 24 October 2015 upon his return from China.

• MNDF used a special vehicle to approach the plane when his plane landed at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport and made the arrest.

• The case was sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office on 24 February 2016 after completing the investigation.

• Rikaz and Amir were arrested in February after they were released from their detention at MNDF.

• The case was sent to trial on 14 March 2016.

• The first hearing in the trial was held on 30 March 2016.

• The case was first presided over a bench of three Judges consisting of Judge Ahmed Rasheed, Judge Ibrahim Ali and Judge Saeed Ibrahim.

• The judge’s bench became void as the trial scheduled witness testimonies and Judge Baree took over the case.

• The trial began moving faster when Judge Baree took over.

• The last hearing for the closing statements before the sentencing was held on 7 June 2016.