Police speedboat arson: court allows to resubmit witnesses due to administrative error

A hearing in charges raised against Moosa Inas, native to Kalhaidhoo island of Laamu atoll in connection with the case regarding the arson attack on a police speedboat, has been held.

The Criminal Court has given the opportunity for the defence to resubmit detailed evidence in the issue of an administrative error that interrupted the process of providing information on the witnesses, in connection with the terrorism charges raised against Inas.

Since the state did not receive information regarding four of the defence witnesses submitted in connection with the case due to an administrative error, a decision was taken on recording the statements of these witnesses.

As such, defence attorney Shazeen stated that in view of decisions made on the subject, it has been held that the prosecution and defence will not be accepted on the basis of the names of witnesses presented.

However, he noted that two main defenses had been submitted, according to the evidence form presented. As such, they had presented the names of witnesses who could testify that the suspect was not present at the scene of the crime.

The defence attorney also noted that the judge had decided against accepting their witness and the defendant had filed the defence to prove that the most important defence of the terrorism act was not committed.

He added that the defendant believes the court can accept their witness, Hassan Ali, a native of Maavah island of Laamu atoll. He urged the judges’ bench to accept Ali’s testimony.

Public prosecutor Fathmath Nabaha had noted some points regarding Hassan Ali, as the defence has requested to not collect the testimonies of the other two witnesses.

As such, pointing out the reason the defendant presented Hassan Ali as a witness, the state prosecutor noted that although the charge sheet states that the defendant did not commit the act mentioned in the charge sheet, the failure to do so mainly indicates that the witness was trying to show that the accused was present in L. Maavah.

Therefore, the prosecution said that the overall reasons given by the witness are based on an alibi defence and that the trial court can only prove that a person has committed or not committed a crime.

The state does not believe that in the event that a witness is presented, it cannot be proved that the person who committed the crime did not in fact commit the crime. However, the state wishes for the bench to not Hassan Ali as a witness.

Another hearing will be held regarding the case, in October.

The judge presiding over the trial is Judge Sofhath Habeeb.

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.

Inas’s residence was raided in his presence.

Terrorism charges were initially raised on Inas and Abdul Latheef Ibrahim native of Gan Island in the same atoll.

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

With this being said, state prosecutors had earlier stated 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 created fear among the public.

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.

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 22 March 2020 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”.