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Criminal Court permits Nasheed’s lawyers to observe May 6 terror attack trials

Criminal Court of the Maldives on February 15, 2021. (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)

The Criminal Court on Sunday granted permission to the legal team of Parliament Speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed, to observe the trials for the May 6, 2021 terror attacks.

Nazim Sattar, who is on Nasheed’s legal team revealed that they requested be granted permission to observe the proceeding in this case on May 26, and was granted today.

The letter sent to the Chief Justice of the Criminal Court Ahmed Shakeel by Nasheed’s lawyers requested to grant permission to at least two from the legal team.

Nasheed’s lawyers are:

Ahmed Nazim Abdul Sattar, The Litigants LLP

Kirsty Brimelow (QC), Doughty Street Chambers

Fath’hulla Ali, The Litigants LLP

Ahmed Niyaz, The Litigants LLP

Moreover, they requested to provide timings and dates related to the legal proceedings of the 10 suspects that are ongoing.

Of the suspects who were charged in connection to the attack, only one,  Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, who confessed to detonating the IED, was convicted. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison in December last year after he signed a plea deal with the state.

Nasheed’s lawyers have asked to observe the trials of the remaining ten defendants. They are:

  • Mujaz Ahmed, Ma. Feyruge, K. Male’  
  • Thahmeen Ahmed, Folheyma, GA. Kondey  
  • Ali Haisham, Nooreege, N. Manadhoo  
  • Is’haq, M. Kudhehige, K. Male’  
  • Fahumy Ali, Hudhuruvaage, GA. Vilingili  
  • Mohamed Nazim, Asareege, AA. Maalhos 
  • Abdulla Ali Manik, Bahaaruge, HA. Molhadhoo  
  • Mohamed Thasleem, Alanaasige, HA. Hoarafushi 
  • Hassan Yaseen, Dhafthar 6231

An additional suspect arrested in the case – Ahmed Fathih, Dunfiniufaa, L. Gan – was released due to insufficient evidence. 

A homemade remote-controlled IED was strapped to a motorcycle parked nearby Nasheed’s residence and was detonated at 08:27 pm on May 6, 2021, just as Nasheed exited his residence and went to get in his car. Nasheed was thrown to the ground and sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, while three members of his security detail and two bystanders sustained minor wounds.  

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