Hearing scheduled for two charged in police launch fire case

The Criminal Court has scheduled a hearing on sunday for the two individuals charged with terrorism, in relation to the arson attack on a police launch back in March.

Although a hearing had been scheduled in the case previously as well, it was cancelled due to technical errors in the video conference hearing.

Terror charges were raised on Moosa Inas, native to Kalaidhoo island of Laamu atoll and Abdul Latheef Ibrahim native to Gan island in the same atoll.

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.

This was followed by the discovery of material such as videos and documents supporting and promoting extremism which was found 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.

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 July 6.

The arson attack took place on March 22 and the Islamic State is to have 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.

Police have since assured that authorities “will not give the opportunity for such things to take place in the community”

A report published by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) indicates that the Islamic State is working in the Maldives “with a network of supporters”.