Suspect arrested over the assassination attempt on the life of current Speaker of Parliament and Former President Mohamed Nasheed, Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed has pled guilty to all four charges raised against him, without any coercion or influence.
The suspect pled guilty during Tuesday’s hearing held at the Criminal Court.
Adhuham faces four charges in connection to the May 6 terrorist attack; being involved in a terrorist attack, planning one, supporting a terrorist organization as well as attempting to kill another with a dangerous weapon. If found guilty of the charge on being involved in a terrorist attack, Adhuham faces a prison sentence of 20 – 25 years, the second charge of planning a terrorist attack carries a prison sentence of 17 – 20 years, the third charge on supporting a terrorist organization carries a three- five year prison sentence and the fourth charge on attempted murder will see Adhuham imprisoned or 15 – 25 years if he is found guilty.
Highlighting the charges against him have been made clear, Adhuham pled guilty to the charges, without any coercion or influence.
The state has shared Adhuham’s plea deal with the court.
The presiding judges closed the hearing to the public at some point, citing discussions regarding national security. The judges had revealed that the hearing would be opened to the public, once the discussions were over.
Earlier, charges were raised against Mujaz Ahmed, Thahumeen Ahmed, Ali Haisham, 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.
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’.
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 nine 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 police institution in July revealed that 10 suspects had been arrested in total.
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.
