Papa gets 2 years, Thiham and Zameer to four months in prison

Former head of President’s Security Ahmed Fayaz Ali RIza (Papa) has been sentenced to 2 years, 3 months and 18 days in prison along with long with the Head of the MNDF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Department, Ahmed Thiham and MNDF Officer Moosa Zameer, who works under them, both received a prison sentence of 4 months and 24 days over events that took place after the explosion onboard presidential speedboat “Finifenma” for Sunday night.

Out of the three, Fayaz has two separate charges against him which were Obstruction of Justice and Obstruction a Law Enforcement Officer on Purpose.

Fayaz was sentenced to two years for Obstruction of Justice and received a sentence of 3 months and 18 days for Obstruction a Law Enforcement Officer on Purpose.

Thiham and Zameer were charged with Obstruction of Justice only.

At the sentencing hearing today, Chief Judge on the bench, Judge Ahmed Rasheed said that the accused are found guilty of the charged based on the evidence and witness testimonies of the prosecution.

The Charge of Obstruction of Justice:

The charge of Obstruction of Justice was brought on after Fayaz was accused of withholding police officers who arrived at the scene from boarding the Presidential Launch, following the explosion onboard on 8 September 2015, to investigate.

Points noted on the verdict:

• Failure to prove Fayaz was following orders from his superiors to keep the Police from boarding the launch.

• Witness testimonies prove that it was Fayaz himself that spoke with the Police Officers who went to investigate.

Points noted on the verdict for Obstruction a Law Enforcement Officer on Purpose:

• Witness testimonies prove that Fayaz went to the scene of explosion at took over command of the MNDF officers at the scene and brought the situation under his control.

• Witness testimonies prove the failure to secure the crime scene after the incident.

• Witness testimonies prove that Thihan and Zameer boarded the launch on the orders of Fayaz.

• Witness testimonies prove that appropriate tools were not used to acquire evidence from the crime scene.

• Witness testimonies prove that the actions of Thiham and Zameer at the crime scene were on specific orders from Fayaz.

• Witness testimonies prove that Thiham and Zameer did not request assistance from the Police at the crime scene.

• Witness testimonies prove that Thiham and Zameer did not have the proper gloves and body vest while working at the crime scene.

• Experts that appeared at the trial said that EOD can take samples at the presence of an investigation institute. The experts said that it was MNDF regulation and how it is taught in training.