Nasheed’s bodyguards questioned in security breach probe
MNDF had previously said they will not be sending individuals officers to the 241 committee who is doing an inquiry of the security breach that led to attack
Parliament's 241 committee doing an inquiry into the security breach that led to the attack
Speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed’s bodyguards have been questioned in the inquiry into a possible security breach which led to a bomb blast targeting the former president.
Nasheed was the target of a remote controlled bomb in capital Male’ City on May 6. He had just left his house and was about to get into his car when a bomb attached to a motorbike exploded.
Parliament’s committee on national security services or the 241 committee, who launched the inquiry on May 24, has been questioning a number of individuals in relation to the case. This includes officers of the Maldives Police Service as well as Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) despite the latter’s decision to not send individual officers for questioning.
241 committee Chair, North-Hithadhoo constituency MP Mohamed Aslam had assured cooperation from all relevant institutions in the investigation, even after the letter from MNDF saying it will be answering as an institution on the officer’s behalf.
As such, officers from the former president’s Special Protection Group (SPG) have been questioned as well as some officers from his “close protection team” appointed by MNDF.
While Nasheed’s security team is being questioned in relation to the bomb blast in the country’s congested capital, they has sustained some injuries in the attack as well. CCTV footage from the scenes show the officers acting quickly, to ensure the former president’s safety.
Others that have been questioned in relation to the inquiry include Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed as well as Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Riyaz as well as officers from the police’s Intelligence Unit. Further, Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal was questioned last week as well as other senior MNDF officers.
Housing Minister Mohamed Aslam and former Male’ City Mayo Shifa Mohamed have also been questioned in the investigation.
While it has since been revealed that there were concerns in providing security at Nasheed’s residence as well as that there had been a request to declare the road where it is located a no-parking zone due to safety issues, this had not been done at the time of the attack.
The 241 committee is working to conclude the inquiry and forward report to the parliament floor by the end of June.
