Three names presented as Ziyad

Three names, all present or former military personnel, has been presented to court as defense witnesses for Colonel-retired Mohamed Ziyad, who has been charged with terrorism for his role in the unlawful arrest of the former Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed.

At today’s hearing in the trial of Mohamed Ziyad, who was the Operations Director at the time of judge Abdulla’s arrest, Ziyad presented First Lieutenant Abdulla Saeed, Captain Hussain Riyaz and Captain Abdul Muiz Musthafa, who was the leader of the snatch team who arrested judge Abdulla Mohamed. He has been discharged from the MNDF.

Ziyad also presented numerous documents as evidence against the state. His team of lawyers said the submitted evidence proofs that Ziyad did not give out order and he was not in command on the night of the operation.

Witness testimonies from the wife of Abdulla Mohamed and his sister in-law were also presented from the prosecution at today’s hearing. They testified that the judge was arrested by force and about 48 hours passed without a word from him.

The state said that it’s important to bring in their witnesses, the former Commissioner of Police Ahmed Faseeh, the former Deputy Commissioner of Police Ismail Atheef and Colonel Vais Waheed and the testimony of Mahmood Shareef is not crucial.