Malé, Maldives – The Criminal Court has ordered for the eight individuals arrested following an attempt to carryout a terrorist attack in Th. Thimarafushi of the Maldives to be remanded until their trial is finished.
The eight, who have been named, Abdullah Shareef, Ali Muneez, Mohamed Asir, Ahsan Mohamed, Abdullah Imad and Shamah Shareef of Th. Thimarafushi, as well as Ibrahim Looth of N. Kudafari and Ali Aruham of R. Kan’dholhudhoo, were arrested in November, while trying to make an IED on a sea vessel named ‘Nasaah-3’.
At today’s hearing regarding the case, the judge announced that the hearing would be based on their detainment. The judge overseeing the case ordered for the alleged 8 suspects to be remanded till end of trial with regards to the safety of the society.
The main concern from the alleged were that they were still detained in a custodial jail even though the court previously ordered for them to be transferred to a remand jail. The judge said that they were not transferred due to the shortage of space of the remand jail according to the police.
All eight have been charged with various counts of terrorism, including planning to commit an act of terrorism, carrying documents suggesting support for a terrorist group, being a member of a terrorist group, attempting to go to war under the terrorism laws of the country, hindering the way of justice, carrying pornographic images, learning skills to carryout an act of terrorism and supporting acts of terrorism.
Individual charges raised against the accused
- Abdullah Shareef, Th. Thimarafushi, Fehividhuvaruge, charged of planning to commit an act of terrorism, carrying documents suggesting support for a terrorist group and being a member of a terrorist group
- Ali Muneez, Th. Thimarafushi, Kenereege, charged of learning skills to carryout an act of terrorism and supporting acts of terrorism
- Mohamed Asir, Th. Thimarafushi, Asurumaage, charged of supporting acts of terrorism
- Ahsan Mohamed, Th. Thimarafushi, Asrafeevilla, charged of planning to commit an act of terrorism and carrying documents suggesting support for a terrorist group
- Abdullah Imad, Th. Thimarafushi, R.Maduvvari, Beachhouse, charged planning to commit an act of terrorism, carrying documents suggesting support for a terrorism group, hindering the way of justice and carrying nude images
- Shamah Shareef, Th. Thimarafushi, Saimaa, charged of planning to commit an act of terrorism and carrying documents suggesting support for a terrorism group
- Ibrahim Looth, N. Kudafari, Rosemeed, charged of hindering the way of justice and planning to commit an act of terrorism
- Ali Aruham, R. Kamdholhudhoo, Fehivilla, charged of planning to commit an act of terrorism, carrying documents suggesting support for a terrorist group and attempting to go to war under the terrorism laws of the country
They were arrested after Police carried out an operation, following intel of possible terrorist activities in the area including building an IED, specifically on the vessel named “Nasaah-3”. Police revealed that Abdullah Shareef, who was among the eight arrested has been identified as a leader ‘Amir’ by the Khorasan province sect of ISIS, and charged accordingly, as have the others.
