Maldives police seek charges against additional suspect over attack on ex-president

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has sought charges against an additional suspect linked to the assassination attempt on Parliament Speaker and Former President Mohamed Nasheed.

In a Twitter post on Thursday, Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem revealed that the Prosecutor General’s Office has accepted the case of an additional suspect accused of being linked to the terrorist attack that attempted to take the life of the speaker.

PG Shameem expressed hope to process the case and make a decision on prosecution by the beginning of the next week.

The Tweet goes on to read that the PGO is currently awaiting final forensic reports from the police institution and ends with the PG enthusiastically noting that the investigation is proceeding.

Charges are were sought against Ali Haisham, 27, native to Manadhoo island in Noonu atoll.

In a press conference to update the public regarding their findings, MPS on July 24 revealed that a total of 10 suspects have been arrested in connection to the IED blast so far and that one of them is one of the leaders behind the attack; Mohamed Thasleem, native to Hoarafushi island in Haa Alif atoll. As of now Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, 25, Mujaz Ahmed, 21, Thahumeen Ahmed, 32, Ahmed Fathih, 23, Haisham, Fahmy Ali, Mohamed Nazim, Abdulla Ali Manik, Is’haq and Thasleem, all remain in police custody.

Earlier the police institution completed probes into four other suspects and forwarded for prosecution. They are Adhuham, Mujaz, Thahumeen and Fathih. The Criminal Court has also remanded three suspects -Mujaz, Thahumeen and Adhuham- until sentencing. Haisham’s remand period was extended by an additional 30 days.

It was also revealed that the May 6 attack was not the only attempt on the former president’s life, noting that the same suspects had made two attempts prior since purchasing a motorcycle in 2019, the same one was used in the IED blast on May 6.

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.

PGO has 15 days to decide on prosecution after charges are sought.

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.

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.