Abbas Faiz, the special envoy to the Maldivian government to monitor the investigation, prosecution and trial of the May 6 terror attack, said on March 07 that judicial authorities have not offered him an acceptable reason for the delay in the trial targeting Parliament speaker, former president Mohamed Nasheed.
On May 6, individuals alleged to be Islamic extremists attempted to assassinate Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed by detonating a home made IED in the capital city of Malé, seriously wounding Nasheed and injuring five others.
Nasheed sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, while three members of his security detail and two bystanders sustained minor wounds.
“The Maldives judicial authorities have not given me an acceptable reason for this delay [in trial],” he said.
So far May 6 trial has produced only one conviction, that against Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, Hiyaa, V. Thinadhoo, who confessed to detonating the IED.
He signed a plea deal with the prosecution and received a reduced sentence of 23 years in prison in 2021.
As per Sun Online, nine people were charged in connection to the May 6 attack, including Adhuham. The other defendants are:
Mujaz Ahmed, Ma. Feyruge, K. Male’
Thahmeen Ahmed, Folheyma, GA. Kondey
Ali Haisham, Nooreege, N. Manadhoo
Mohamed Nazim, Asareege, AA. Maalhos
Fahumy Ali, Hudhuruvaage, GA. Vilingili
Abdulla Ali Manik, Bahaaruge, HA. Molhadhoo
Is’haq, M. Kudhehige, K. Male’
Mohamed Thasleem, Alanaasige, HA. Hoarafushi
A tenth suspect arrested in the case, Ahmed Fathih, Dhunfiniufaa, L. Gan, was released due to lack of evidence.
Following the May 6 attack, MNDF and MPS conducted a series of joint operations in Malé and Addu, arresting at least 10 individuals suspected of being ISIS supporters, some of whom were charged with possession of material promoting a terrorist organization.
Prosecutions were still in the pretrial phase at the end of the year.
In Maldives responsibility for Counter Terror operations, including investigations is with the Maldives Police Service or MPS.
The investigative and evidentiary materials are shared with the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) through an informal cooperative arrangement and provides the PGO with evidentiary packets for charging consideration as per Country Report on Terrorism by the US State Department for 2021.
After charges are filed, MPS continues to support the investigation during the pretrial, trial, and sentencing phases.
The MNDF, including the marines and coast guard, are said to be responsible for CT response.
Capacity Constraints
The delay in trial apparently indicates inability of Prosecution authorities to prepare the relevant documents for the court to proceed with the trial. This could be a weakness of the MPS or the PGO which is yet to be established.
The judiciary could possibly get into the act and issue instructions for time bound completion of the trial.
With such a high profile terror case of attack on the speaker of the parliament taking two years for reaching the trial stage the competence of the PGO and the MPS needs to be questioned.
There was also much criticism over action on intelligence available for a possible attack on the Speaker with fingers pointing at the ministerial level.