Rilwan, Yameen's death: Closed door hearings on lawyers' request
Delivering justice for the murders of Yameen and Rilwan is a presidential pledge.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Hearings in the trial of three suspects over the murders of journalist Ahmed Rilwan and blogger Yameen Rasheed have been been kept secret at the behest of both the state and defence lawyers.
Three individuals arrested on June 26 and charged on 1 August in connection with the abduction of journalist Rilwan and the murder of blogger Yameen:
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1-
Ahmed 'Ahandhu' Ismail, 39 - MA. Fagafila (assisting and plotting an act of terrorism)
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2-
Ismail Abdul Raheem 'Isu' Adam, 30 - M. Lagoonview (two charges of aiding and abetting an act of terrorism)
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3-
Ahmed 'Gut-Mua' Muaz, 40 - Male' Dhafthar RS8499 (planning an act of terrorism)
During the first hearing on 31 August, some defence lawyers and the state requested to hold the trial behind closed doors. The first hearing in the case was conducted by Criminal Court Chief Judge Misbah Mohamed, and he had the trial opened for media to attend.
The second hearing in the case is scheduled for 4pm on Monday. The hearing will be held behind closed doors.
During the first hearing, the lawyers requested to keep the trial secret:
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To protect the interests of those involved in the case due to the abuse window it is likely to open
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As various parts of the case are still under investigation, the disclosure and publication of statements in the trial could obstruct justice.
This is the first case filed with the court by the presidential commission on deaths and disappearances. Delivering justice for the murders of Yameen and Rilwan is a presidential pledge.
Yameen's death:
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Six people were previously charged in the 2017 brutal murder of blogger Yameen
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Only two of them were found guilty of the charges.
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The case was appealed at the High Court in April after the Criminal Court found the other two not guilty.
Rilwan's death:
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Two people were previously charged with terrorism over the 2014 abduction and murder of journalist Rilwan
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Both were found not guilty in 2018; the sentence was not appealed.
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The Commission on Deaths and Disappearances has previously stated that Rilwan was murdered by the Al-Qaeda branch of the Maldives after kidnapping him.
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