Court says trying to conclude Nasheed blast trial in 4 months
The judge said that he would still get it done even if the witnesses had to be summoned in custody through the police.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Criminal Court on Wednesday said it was trying to complete the trial of those charged in the bomb blast that targeted speaker Mohamed Nasheed within the next four months.
Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, who was arrested and charged with the May 6, 2021 attack, for direct involvement in Nasheed’s assassination attempt, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 23 years in prison after entering into a deal with the state. The cases of the other accused in the case are pending in the court.
The trial is currently underway in the court against:
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Thahumeen Ahmed, Folheymaa/ G.A. Kondey: Charged with involvement in a terrorist act, aiding and abetting the transportation of explosives and supporting a terrorist organisation
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Mujaz Ahmed, M.a. Feyruge/K. Male: Charges of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act and aiding and abetting the escape of a person who has committed a crime
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Ali Haisham, Nuri's/N. Manadhoo: Charged with conspiring to commit a terrorist act, aiding and abetting transportation of crops elsewhere, and involvement in a terrorist act
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Is-haq, M.a. Kudhehige/K. Male: Charges of transporting explosives, conspiracy to commit a terrorist act and involvement in a terrorist act
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Fahmy Ali, Hudhuruvaage/G.A. Vilingili: Charged with involvement in a terrorist act
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Mohamed Nazim, Asareege/A.A. Maalhos: Charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act
Wednesday’s hearing was to record the inaugural statement filed by both the parties at the start of the trial. All the accused have denied the charges in the case, during the inaugural statement.
Judge Soffath said the schedule for the upcoming hearings would be shared with both the parties and if the schedule was followed, it was expected that the verdict could be pronounced by August 31 this year.
He, however, added that if there is a need to change the schedule based on the points raised by the counsel for the accused, the changes will be made. The judge noted that the case would be delayed beyond August only if there was difficulty in summoning witnesses.
The judge, however, said that he would still get it done even if the witnesses had to be summoned in custody through the police.
The case was initially heard by a three-judge constitution bench. Judge Adam Mohamed, however, had recused himself from the case as he had been threatened. Judge Hassan Saeed, who was later appointed to the bench, also recused himself from the case.
Now, a three-judge bench has been dissolved and the case has been handed over to only one judge. Justice Soffath Habeeb is currently presiding the case.
