Three to be sentenced for attempt to join civil conflict in Syria
Attempted to fly out in February 2016
Two of the three charged with terrorism
Three individuals are to be sentenced for their attempt to join the civil conflict in Syria.
Charges had been raised against Ahmed Latheef of Muringu in Maamendhoo island in Laamu Atoll, Ahmed Suhail Moosa of Neelvilla in Rathafandhoo island in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll and Munavvar Abdullah of Senereege in Gaadhiffushi island in Thaa Atoll.
The sentencing is set for 1300hrs on Wednesday.
The charges say that the three had left Maldives for Syria on February 15,2016. They were arrested on the Turkey – Syria border area.
The summary charges were announced on the hearing held on 21st of this month, with the Judge announcing that a verdict will be announced in the next hearing.
The trio’s lawyer stated in his summary hearings that it was the responsibility of the state to prove their involvement in a terror group, their agent and prove their entry into Syria. These, he said was not proved. The lawyer further noted that anonymous witnesses had later on claimed that their statements were coerced. He added that witnesses had testified that the trio had gone on a business trip.
The lawyer also raised several key concerns over the testimony given by the state’s terrorism expert. He said the terror expert did not even know the exact path his clients took. The expert claimed that they took a direct path from Maldives to Sri Lanka to Turkey, while he claims his clients made a stopover in Dubai.
The lawyer further noted that business trips were not banned under the Constitution.
The summary charges note that while the anonymous witnesses contradict themselves, the expert testimony cannot be stricken off.
