Hearing scheduled for two charged in police speedboat arson case

The Criminal Court has scheduled a hearing for the two individuals charged with terrorism, in relation to the arson attack on a police speedboat back in March 2020.

The hearing will begin at 2pm, Sunday.

Terror charges were raised on Moosa Inas, native to Kalhaidhoo island of Laamu atoll and Abdul Latheef Ibrahim native to Gan Island in the same atoll.

The last hearing in the case was held on October 17 this year during which state prosecutors requested to uphold the decision to keep Inas remanded pending the outcome of the trial.

Inas was found guilty of involvement in the Sultan Park bombing back in 2007, for which he had carried out a sentence as well.

With this being said, state prosecutors added that there is adequate evidence to prove the charges currently raised against him, adding that he has been remanded for public safety as he was behind the arson attack on police vessels which caused losses to the state and immersed the public in fear.

Presiding judge in the case, Sofwath Habeeb revealed that Inas is accused of being one of the masterminds behind the attack, citing which the decision to keep him remanded pending sentencing, was upheld.

The court had however urged the state to be mindful of providing the adequate medical treatment for detainees.

Charges were raised on the two Maldivian men under the Anti-Terrorism Act and they stand to face a jail term between 20 – 25 years if they are found guilty.

Police earlier discovered material such as videos and documents supporting and promoting extremism in hard disks confiscated during the investigation stage, from the residence of the one of the suspects. The material found on the hard disks supported the Islamic State (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda, revealed the Prosecutor General’s Office.

PGO revealed that Abdul Latheef had confessed to obstructing law enforcement by destroying evidence and that he was sentenced to one year and 12 days in prison by the Gan Magistrate Court, on 6 July 2020.

The arson attack took place on March 22 last year and the Islamic State had taken responsibility for the fire that burned five boats docked at Mahibadhoo harbor, to crisp. This came after police revealed that the fire is “believed to be a terrorist attack”, citing similarities with other such attacks on a sea ambulance as well as police and council speedboats.

A report published earlier by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) indicated that the Islamic State is working in the Maldives “with a network of supporters”.