Malé, Maldives – The Maldives High Court has ordered for the five arrestees released by Criminal Court of Maldives to be detained again.
The Prosecutor General’s office filed an appeal against Criminal Court’s judgement to release 5 suspects arrested from Addu City in a counter-terrorism operation on 1 June 2021 at the High Court. The High Court after hearings has overruled the sentence by Criminal Court and remanded the suspects to additional 15 days.
The Criminal Court passed the verdict on 30 May, to release 5 of the 9 people arrested in Addu City over alleged terrorism. The court made this decision at a second remand hearing after they were remanded to 15 days of detention during the first hearing.
The Criminal Court has not revealed details regarding why the 5 individuals were released.
Public Prosecutor Ahmed Shafeeu giving information to local media Voice on Monday, said that this verdict from the Criminal Court will be appealed at the High Court.
Locals say that those arrested are alleged extremists who spread radical extremist ideologies in Addu City. According to sources, one of the arrestees is a leader of the group operating from the city.
After the May 6 terror attack, the police said that there would be a crackdown on terrorists and terrorism supporters, including those posting such content on social media and supporting terrorism on media comment sections as well.
An IED explosion went off around 20:20 on 6 May leaving Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed critically injured while he was getting in to his car near his house, G. Kenereege, Malé City. In addition to him, 3 more people were also been reported to be injured from the explosion including the Speaker’s bodyguards and bystanders.
