Malé, Maldives – Local media Mihaaru reports that Ali Manik who has recently been arrested in relation to the terror attack against the Former President and Current Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed on May 6, was released by the incumbent government while he was serving a sentence for extremism.
Abdhullah Ali Manik received his education in Pakistan and since his arrival to the Maldives, he has played a huge role in spreading extremism in the island nation.
He was arrested in the year 2007 over extremism acts and was sentenced to 10 years in jail. However, local media outlet “Miadhu” reports that he was allegedly released under special pardon by the President, after cutting his sentence to three days, on May 5, 2019. There were still over six months left in his sentence at the time of release.
During his time in jail, he trained and recruited many inmates to extremism according to sources. He also took part in terrorist activities upon his alleged release.
Ali Manik is charged with,
- 2004 – Illegal marriage
- 2006 – Creating religious division among the public
- 2008 – Himandhoo terror plot
- 2009 – Failure to follow orders
- 2010 – Failure to follow orders
“Mihaaru” news alleges that they are in possession of a letter signed by Counsel to the President Ahmed Abdulla Afeef requesting to release Manik after cutting his remaining sentence to three days.
Since the explosion attack that was aimed at Speaker Mohamed Nasheed on May 6th, Police has been conducting a large operation against extremism. So far Police has arrested three people from the Capital Malé city and all three are suspected to be extremists.
