Court rejects Thinadhoo arson attack case

Criminal Court has rejected the case of 89 suspects involved in the arson attack in Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo following the resignation of former president Mohamed Nasheed from presidency when the case was submitted to the court for the second time.

An official of Prosecutor General’s Office (PG) said to Sun Online that even though the case of 89 suspects involved in the arson attack in Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo was sent to Criminal Court on Monday, Court has rejected the case, but the court did not mention the reason for the rejection.

There was no response from the media official of Criminal Court when Sun Online tried to get information from the court regarding the rejection of the case.

The Defense Lawyers’ Team of the 89 suspects have raised their concern over the decision of Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin for submitting the case of arson attack in Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo to the court for the second time. Fareesha Abdulla, a lawyer of the Defense Lawyers’ Team said that according to the Act 66 in the Constitution, trials cannot be held for that case for a second time.

Criminal Court has abolished the case on last Saturday as the state lawyer did not attend the trial that was scheduled at 10:00 am on Saturday. In a statement released by the Criminal Court after abolishing the case, it was noted that adequate support from the state was not given to present the witnesses to the court.

A total of 89 suspects were charged over terrorism in Thinadhoo for having burnt and vandalized G.Dh Atoll Council Office, Thinadhoo Court, Thinadhoo Police Station and all police vehicles. However, all the suspects have denied to charges.

The case was abolished by the Criminal Court after obtaining testimonies from some of the witnesses presented by the state.