Maldives police seek charges against four suspects over attack on ex-president
Remand of four suspects extended on Wednesday
Third suspect arrested in the investigation into the attack on Former President Mohamed Nasheed
The probe into four suspects linked to the assassination attempt on Parliament Speaker and Former President Mohamed Nasheed has been completed and forwarded for prosecution.
Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem on Wednesday revealed that he has received the investigation reports of four of the suspects, adding that probes in to other suspects and proof "will continue".
After submitting the investigative and evidential documents and materials for the prosecution of the "first set of suspects" linked to the terrorist attack, Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed stressed that the probe will proceed with “great focus and continued support" from their international partners as well.
Shortly after the attack on May 6, authorities had announced plans to bring in foreign investigators to assist in the investigation. As such, a team from the Australian Federal Police is in the capital city to assist in the probe, as well as American experts.
While the cases of the first four suspects arrested in the case have been forwarded for prosecution, PG Shameem noted that they have 15 days to decide on prosecution.
The PG announced that he will be holding a press conference together with the police, on July 24, to share more details of the case.
Charges are being sought against Ahmed Adhuham, 25, Mujaz Ahmed, 21, Thahumeen Ahmed, 32 and Ahmed Fathih, 23.
While it has been revealed that investigators have identified at least eight suspects connected to the attack on the former president, police have revealed the identities of five.
According to the Anti-terrorism Act, a period of 75 days will be allowed for prosecution from the day of arrest, which will end on August 5.
Also on Wednesday, the Criminal Court remanded three suspects -Mujaz, Thahumeen and Adhuham- until sentencing.
Further, the remand period of a fourth suspect Ali Haisham, 27, has been extended for an additional 30 days.
Mujaz and Thahumeen were arrested two days after the bomb attack while Adhuham was apprehended on May 9. On May 19, Maldives Police Service arrested a fourth suspect identified as 23-year-old Fathih. Haisham was the fifth suspect arrested. He was seized from Manadhoo island in Noonu atoll on June 11.
Nasheed was targeted in an assassination attempt on May 6, as he was heading out to attend an event in an island. The attack, which saw a remote-controlled IED explode near his residence in the center of congested Malé City, caused serious injuries to the ex-president who was rushed to the hospital within seven minutes after being knocked to the ground by the blast, which was dubbed far more powerful than the explosion in Sultan Park, 2007.
He underwent 16 hours of surgery at ADK Hospital. While the former president traveled to Germany for further treatment a week after the attack, he has since been referred to experts in the United Kingdom.
