Terrorist suspect Ameen’s hearing cancelled due to administrative issues

Hearing of terrorist suspect, Mohamed Ameen, which was scheduled by the criminal court to be held on Thursday, was cancelled due to administrative issues.

In Thursday’s hearing, the intelligence report created on the two charges place upon him, was to be presented with evidence. Although evidence was supposed to be presented at the hearing scheduled for the 27th of August, it was rescheduled as the defense hired a new lawyer.

During the hearing held on the 27th of August by the criminal court, the state presented witness statements to the court. Thereby, even though it was decided that the person who drafted the intelligence report would make a statement, they were unable to because a new lawyer was hired to Ameen’s legal team.

In the course of this hearing, Ameen who was charged for planning a terrorist attack and for being involved in a terrorism group, spoke out about how he was treated with prejudice in jail.

While the state had denied these allegations, the Judge who presided over the case, Ahmed Shakeel declared that the matter would be looked into from both sides.

The new lawyer appointed to Ameen’s legal team, Ismail Visham stated that he would like to review the report before his client was sentenced to 50 years in jail, according to the report drafted in regards to the case.

The state then affirmed that they were against giving the report to the defense for review as it was already once handed over, after excluding the statements made by anonymous witnesses.

However, head judge on the case, Ahmed Shakeel declared that the defense would be given a chance to review the report and announced that witness statements will be taken on October 2nd.

Ameen’s lawyers had also requested that the court review their decision in relation to not accepting the evidence submitted by the defense in the hearing held last Wednesday, in addition to stating that the state was being very biased in this case. It is to be noted that the state affirmed that they wish to present a total of five submissions.

Judge Shakeel then recognized that the five witnesses put forth by the defense are all people that Ameen are acquainted with, that are aware of his religious beliefs and other things related to his life and affirmed that if the court is to accept the statements made by these witnesses, they must present new evidence that was not discussed in previous hearings.

The judge also identified that the documents submitted by the defense reveal nothing the court did not already know. Therefore, Judge Shakeel affirmed that the court cannot accept the defense’s evidence as they could have submitted it before and failed to do so.

The summary of the case is to be held by the court on the 29th of October and a verdict is to be announced towards the end of October or the beginning of November.

Ameen is the first Maldivian to be included under America’s list of terrorists. The Office of Foreign Affairs Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, recognized Ameen as a terrorist and has taken financial action against him.