Man who threatened to bomb Indian high commission, released from police custody

The man arrested for threatening to bomb the Indian High Commission in Maldives, has been released.

This comes at a time charges of threatening to carry out a terrorist attack, under Article 13(c) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act of the Maldives in reference to Article 13(a), 4(b) (2), (4), and (6), were forwarded to the Criminal Court against the man, on September 30.

The Prosecutor General’s Office ordered his release, citing that there were no legal grounds to keep him in police custody. The Criminal Court released him on September 30.

Public Prosecutor Ahmed Shafeeu revealed that he was released after checking if there were any legal grounds to keep him remanded, under Article (49) of the Maldives Constitution, the Criminal Procedure Code, and other procedures followed in releasing persons accused of crime.

According to the PG Office, Mohamed Inad, 42 and native to the Maldives capital, had threatened to bomb the Indian High Commission in Malé City, on social media platform Twitter on 30 June 2021. He was arrested on June 3.

The suspect stands to face a prison sentence of four to six years, in found guilty of the crime.

According to the Maldives Police Service (MPS), threatening to damage property, attack an individual or even promoting and encouraging such crimes is punishable. The police institution remains committed to take the necessary action to bring justice in such cases, as they are investigated as serious criminal offenses.

Due to the threats to the diplomatic mission, security measures were strengthened at the High Commission of India as well as Embassy of China in the Maldives' congested capital, on the day of the suspect’s arrest.

Both diplomatic missions had requested to boost security measures in their respective regions, at a time reports of protests in front of the Chinese Embassy as well as threats to bomb the Indian High Commission had been circulating on social media.

Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, the government of Maldives is mandated to provide the required security for diplomats and diplomatic missions established in the island nation