Sniper remanded for a sixth time

The remand of the Sri Lankan sniper arrested for conspiracy to assassinate the President Abdulla Yamin Abdul Gayoom has been extended for a sixth time.

A media official of the Police told Sun Media today that his remand was extended by another 15 days by the Criminal Court on Thursday.

While a Sri Lankan sniper was arrested for conspiracy to assassinate the President, Police have recently arrested three Maldivians who allegedly conspired and brought the sniper to the Maldives.

In a statement issued by the Police on 7 November 2015, they said that the 27-year-old Sri Lankan sniper was arrested in the Maldives on 24 October.

The statement said that the investigation has learnt that the man was sniper was hired by a group of Maldivians to assassinate the President. But the Police did not reveal who it was that hired the man.

“Looking at the information received in this case so far, the investigation has learned that the Sri Lankan national was brought to Maldives with payments from a group of Maldivians. And the investigation has learned that the man was tasked to assassinate the Maldivian President using firearms.” The earlier statement said.