State asks top court to overturn Adeeb’s weapons possession verdict

The state has requested the Supreme Court to overturn the guilty verdict against former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb over possession of a pistol.

The lower court sentenced Adeeb to 10 years in prison over weapons possession in 2016.

At Sunday’s appeal hearing, the state attorney said that there was not enough evidence to find Adeeb guilty.

Adeeb’s attorney said that only witness testimonies were used against him and that the trial proceedings revealed that three of the witnesses could not distinguish between types of firearms, adding that their description of the handgun did not fit the specifications of what legally constitutes a firearm, which is that it should be able to discharge bullets to at least 60 feet.

Also at Sunday’s hearing, Adeeb claimed that the verdict was political as he was charged after being arrested on 24 October 2015 and the witnesses were kept secret.

The state attorney said that the charge cited The Prevention of Terrorism Act’s Article 2(d) which states that the unauthorized import of any explosive substance, ammunition or firearms into the country, the use, storage, or sale of such substance or equipment in the Maldives are considered acts of terrorism.

The state attorney said that while the High Court backed the lower court’s verdict, the High Court had failed to defend the position in detail, and that the verdict was not based on any evidence. Therefore, the state attorney requested the Supreme Court to overturn the verdict.

Adeeb has been found guilty of multiple charges and is serving prison sentences totaling 33 years. If the Supreme Court found him not-guilty of weapons possession, his sentence would reduce to 23 years.