Addu arson attacks: court hears confession for case involving three minors

Court has heard confessions from witnesses presented by the State against the three minors charged with terrorism in relation to the riots that took place in Addu City in February of 2012.

An official from the Juvenile Court said that the court heard the confessions of three witnesses presented by the state, and also one witness presented by the defence. The official however did not say how the confessions were obtained during the hearing held today.

The official revealed that the next hearing for the case will be held on the 8th of next month and that the hearing will also see confessions from witnesses.

One of the minors is being accused of standing on the causeway leading to Seenu Gan and attacking the police and military men around 6pm on the evening of 8th of February 2012.

The other two minors are being accused, in addition to the same accusation to the other minor, for vandalizing the property and the Gan Police Station on the 8th of February 2012.

All three minors are being charged under the prohibition of terrorism act, article 6 (b) in reference to article 2 (f) and Article 2 (g).

The act states that a person convicted of the offences stated in the article may be subjected imprisonment or banishment for a period of 10 to 15 years.

Although these are the penalties stated in the act, the minors will receive reduced sentences with regard to their age, as the act on sentencing minors states that minors convicted of crime shall only be subjected to two-thirds of the lowest form of penalty prescribed by the law.