Charges pressed against three more suspects over attack on ex-president
The investigation is still ongoing for those who planned and carried out the attack
The IED was detonated near the former president's residence on May 6
Charges have been raised against three more suspects in connection to the terrorist attack aimed to assassinate Speaker and President Mohamed Nasheed on May 6.
The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) revealed that the charges were forwarded to the Criminal Court on Monday.
Charges were raised against Fahmy Ali, native to Villingili island in Gaaf Alif atoll, Mohamed Nazim native to Maalhos island in Alif Alif atoll and Is’haq, native of capital Malé City.
Charges against Fahmy were raised under Article 4(b)(i), 2, 2(c) and 6(a)(ii) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, for participating in an act of terrorism.
Further, Nazim is charged under the same act’s Article 4(b)(i), 2, 2(c) and 7(a), for planning to carry out an act of terrorism.
The third suspect, Is’haq faces three charges; being involved in moving explosives, planning a terrorist attack and being a part of a terrorist attack.
Earlier, the PG Office raised charges against the suspect initially arrested in connection to the attack; Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, Mujaz Ahmed, Thahumeen Ahmed and Ali Haisham.
Adhuham signed a plea deal with authorities in early August, for a reduced 23-year prison sentence. The plea deal was reached under the Criminal Procedure Act, after three days of negotiations.
According to the plea deal, Adhuham admitted to have been involved in the planning of a terrorist attack and being a part of the crimes performed by a community called the ‘Islamic State’. Adhuham faces four charges; being involved in an act of terrorism, planning one, supporting a terrorist organization as well as attempting to kill another with a weapon.
Mujaz is being charged for a total of two crimes. If found guilty he would be facing 17-20 years for planning a terrorist attack and 9 months and 18 days for hiding after committing a crime. Mujaz faces two charges; planning an act of terrorism and aiding someone who has committed a crime, to hide.
If Thahumeen Ahmed is proven to be guilty of the four charges against him, he would have to serve a total of 49 years in prison. This includes 17 years for the first charge, 17 for the second charge, three years for the third charge and 12 years for the fourth charge. Thahumeen faces four charges as well; transporting an explosive, supporting a terrorist organization, partaking in an act of terrorism and planning one.
Ali Haisham is being charged for planning a terrorist attack, being a part of a terrorist attack and being involved in moving explosives and is to serve 46 years if charges against him are found to be true. This includes 17 years for being part of the attack, 17 for aiding the attack and 12 years for moving the explosive. Haisham is charged with planning an act of terrorism, transporting explosives and taking part in the act.
The remand period of Is’haq and Fahmy was extended by 14 more days earlier in September.
The police institution in July revealed that 10 suspects had been arrested in total.
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 assisting in the probe, as well as American experts.
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.
