Malé, Maldives – Blogger Yameen Rasheed’s family has requested that Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem to try Yameen’s case during the ongoing trial at the Criminal Court of Maldives.
Six individuals have been charged with Yameen’s murder, after he was killed after returning from his work place, Maldives Stock Exchange to his residence at the time, M. Spatula. He was attacked by a sharp edged object near the stairwell of his home, which ultimately resulted in his death, which both Police and the Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearances (DDCOM) have concluded was at the hands of a group of religious extremists.
Following Sunday’s hearing of the case, a statement released by the Association for Democracy in the Maldives revealed that certain requests have been made on behalf of Yameen, citing issues in ensuring the right to a fair and open trial.
Requests made the by Yameen’s family include an appeal to the Prosecutor General’s Office, to have PG Hussain Shameem himself try this case, as the verdict of Ahmed Rilwan Abdullah’s case, which is connected to Yameen’s, read negligence of the state as a hindrance to proving the case, which is a probable likelihood in this case as well, as per the family. The family also added that it is their wish to have an open trial, allowing as many people to witness the trial or listen to the trial as possible.
The hearing on Sunday ended after statements made by the accused, regarding the injustice they face during their trial, which took a large amount of time of the hearing, as well as a 10 second video showing the final moments of Yameen.
The case, which was currently presided over by current Supreme Court Judge Ali Rasheed Hussain, is currently being presided over by Judge Adam Mohamed.
