Two charged over attack on ex-president, remanded pending sentencing

Abdulla Ali Manik, native to Molhadhoo island in Haa Alif atoll and Mohamed Thasleem, native to Hoarafushi island in Haa Alif atoll, charged over the terrorist attack aimed to assassinate Speaker and President Mohamed Nasheed on May 6, have been remanded pending sentencing.

A remand hearing was held at the Criminal Court for the two suspects, on Tuesday.

Presiding Judge Ali Adam had in an earlier hearing in late October, granted the suspects an opportunity to appoint legal representatives, upon their request. The suspects were remanded for five days until they were able to appoint lawyers, after being deemed a risk to the society.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Adam affirmed that Thasleem has confirmed the appointment of a legal representative, however, Ali Manik is yet to do so.

Speaking at the hearing, Ali Manik requested for release on conditions.

Thasleem’s lawyer pointed out that the charge of supporting a terrorist organization carries a sentence of up to five years, questioning on how this becomes a criminal offense. To this, the state attorneys cited the Criminal Procedure Code, which entails that terrorism is deemed a criminal offense.

With this, the state attorneys requested for the suspects to be remanded pending sentencing.

Presiding Judge Adam also revealed that both suspects have a history of similar offenses, adding that he believes they are a threat to the society. With this, he issued a ruling to keep them remanded pending the outcome of the trial.

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) forwarded charges against the two, on October 19.

Charges against the suspects were raised under Article 16-1 (a) 1 and (b) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, for supporting a terrorist organization.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) earlier revealed that Thasleem was arrested from Addu City and findings indicate that he was one of the masterminds behind the assassination attempt. He was also someone who raised the suggestion to kill Nasheed.

Ali Manik is to have been involved in the clash in Himandhoo island of Alif Alif atoll in 2007 and was jailed for 10 years in connection to the case.

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.

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.

The shrapnel pieces from the bomb blast caused a substantial amount of damage to his internal organs, but had missed some vital arteries and organs. A shrapnel piece struck his rib, which otherwise would have struck his heart, leading to a fatality.  Speaker Nasheed underwent 16 hours of live-saving surgery at ADK hospital.

Nasheed returned to Maldives earlier in October, after nearly five months abroad.