Rilwan, Yameen's death: Court backs detention for 3 suspects
Hearings in the trial of the three suspects have been been kept secret at the behest of both the state and defence lawyers.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Criminal Court has ordered the detention of three people arrested in connection to the murders of journalist Ahmed Rilwan and blogger Yameen Rasheed.
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 include:
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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 last hearing of the case, presiding judge Misbah Mohamed made a decision on their remand.
The three were initially detained until the end of their trial. However, as per the court's rules of procedure, the detention would be reviewed once charges were filed.
The judge decided to maintain the detention of three people at Thursday's hearing. Ali Shah, the lawyer of Ahmed Ismail, also confirmed it.
Hearings in the trial of the three suspects have been been kept secret at the behest of both the state and defence lawyers.
During the first hearing on 31 August, some defence lawyers and the state requested to hold the trial behind closed doors. 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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