6th suspect in R. Maduvvari terrorism case released

Police Officers conducting their operation in Madduvvari, Raa Atoll | Photo: Madduvvari Online

Malé, Maldives — The Criminal Court of Maldives has released the 6th suspect who was charged with supporting terrorist organisations.

The 6th suspect, Hassan Razee was released by the court on Wednesday. He was taken to custody during a special operation conducted by Maldives Police Service in Raa Atoll Maduvvari during the start of 2020.

Along with Hassan Razee, five other individuals were arrested and charged with supporting terrorist organisations in the operation as well. However, all of the five people have been released from state custody.

During the hearing on Wednesday, Raazee’s lawyer requested for his release stating that the court had freed the five other suspects arrested on similar charges.

According to local media, the five suspects were released from the court on grounds that they had been remanded for an excessively long period of time.

The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) had previously revealed that authorities were aware of the islands in which extremism is spreading at a large scale. The authorities state that extremist beliefs have spread to dangerous levels all across the archipelago within the last 12 years.

There are approximately 1400 individuals in Maldives, who would not hesitate to kill for their cause, revealed Commissioner of Police (CP), Mohamed Hameed.