May 6 blast: Court to allow Thahmeen to submit evidence in defense

Thahmeen Ahmed, Folheyma, GA. Kondey, who was charged in connection to the 2021 IED attack on Parliament speaker, former president Mohamed Nasheed has been granted the opportunity to submit evidence to back his defense.

Previously, Criminal Court decided against granting Thahmeen the opportunity to submit evidence for his defense following his failure to submit evidence days past the deadline.

Stressing the fact at Wednesday’s hearing, Thahmeen’s lawyer Hamza Latheef said his client’s previous lawyer Ismail Mohamed had been unable to submit evidence. Citing his takeover of the case, Hamaz requested an additional opportunity to submit evidence.

State prosecutors from the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) had not objected to this. The prosecution views defensive evidence as the most important basis for building a defense. Nevertheless, the prosecution underscored the accused’s failure to submit defensive evidence during the timeframe provided.

Judge Saf’ath Habeeb, who presides over the case, attributed the accused failure to submit defensive evidence during the timeframe stipulated by the law to his previous attorney’s negligence. Therewith, the court decided to provide him an additional opportunity to submit defensive evidence.

In order to accommodate this, the hearing was concluded early, which also postponed the proceedings with respect to other suspects charged in the case.

The remaining suspects include Mujaz Ahmed, Ma. Feyruge, K. Male’, Ali Haisham, Nooreege, N. Manadhoo, Mohamed Nazim, Asareege, AA. Maalho, Fahumy Ali, Hudhuruvaage, GA. Vilingili and Is’haq, M. Kudhehige, K. Male’.

Only one suspect has been convicted in connection to the case; Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, Hiyaa, V. Thinadhoo, who confessed to detonating the IED. He signed a plea deal with the prosecution and received a reduced sentence of 23 years in prison in 2021.

The terror attack targeting Nasheed with a homemade remote-controlled IED took place on May 6, 2021. Nasheed sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, while three members of his security detail and two bystanders sustained minor wounds.