The government’s special envoy Abbas Faiz has expressed concern over the current delay in the May 6 terrorist attack trial.

Faiz, who is monitoring the investigation, prosecution and trial of the terrorist attack against Speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed after arriving in the Maldives in early July, took to Twitter on Monday evening to express concern over the current delay in the May 6 terrorist attack trial.

The Tweet reads that the delay in the trial of the accused in the May 6 attack is of “serious concern” and that months have passed since the charges were framed.

Faiz stressed that only one case has received a trail and that the other are only in the pre-trial stage, adding that it is “unclear” whether the trials will be “batched together” to avoid “unnecessary delays”.

Faiz, who was appointed by the President on 19 May 2021, is tasked with ensuring that all stages of the May 6 terrorist attack investigation, prosecution and trial of alleged perpetrators as well as related and necessary inquiries are conducted as per international practices as well as laws of the Maldives.

This is important to ensure public confidence in the procedure’s integrity.

The British national has over 30 years of experience monitoring human rights situations in South Asia, including Maldives.

Of the nine suspects charged in connection to the case, only the trial of one suspect; Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, has concluded so far.

Adhuham was slapped with a 23-year prison sentence on 14 December 2021. Adhuham had pled guilty to all four charges raised against him, without any coercion or influence, during the last hearing held on 21 September 2021. Following this, the court had fast-tracked his trial. 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.

Following the sentencing, Faiz earlier revealed that it mirrors the strength of evidence professionally gathered by the police and “meticulously scrutinized” by the prosecution, before being presented to court.

He stated that this must not overshadow pending work to uncover wider links and finances.

The nine charged in connection to the case are; Mujaz Ahmed, Thahumeen Ahmed, Ali Haisham, Mohamed Nazim, Fahmy Ali, Abdulla Ali Manik, Is’haq, Adhuham and Mohamed Thasleem.

Adhuham faced four counts of 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.

Ahmed Fathih who was also one of the suspects initially arrested, was released after the PG office decided against pressing charges against him.

Adhuham faced four counts of 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.

Is’haq faces three charges; being involved in moving explosives, planning a terrorist attack and being a part of a terrorist attack.

Fahmy was charged for participating in an act of terrorism.

Nazim is charged for planning to carry out an act of terrorism.

Mujaz faces two charges; planning an act of terrorism and aiding someone who has committed a crime, to hide.

Ali Haisham is being charged for planning a terrorist attack, being a part of a terrorist attack and being involved in moving explosives

Thahumeen faces four charges as well; transporting an explosive, supporting a terrorist organization, partaking in an act of terrorism and planning one.

Ali Manik, charged with supporting a terrorist organization, 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.

Thasleem, also charged with supporting a terrorist organization, 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.

Nasheed was targeted in an assassination attempt on 6 May 2021, 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 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 2021, after nearly five months abroad.