Hibalhidhoo military weapon terror trial to start Sunday

The first hearing in the case against former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor and four other individuals over military weapons being found hidden in the lagoon of B. Hibalhidhoo is scheduled to start on Sunday.

Others charged in the case are former Head of Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Ordinance Service Unit – Ahmed Fayaz Ali Riza (Papa), Former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Normalization Committee member – Mohamed Hussain (Oittey), Mohamed Allaam Latheef, and Ahmed Ishfah Ali.

Criminal Court has scheduled the hearing at 2 pm, Sunday.

Fayaz has been accused of attempting to fabricate documents of the MNDF Artillery under the management of Ordinance Service Unit from April 26, 2015.

He is accused of taking weapons out of the artillery in violation of set regulation, and hindering attempts to recover the weapons.

Adeeb and Oittey are accused of being seen with explosives at Adeeb’s apartment in H. Humashige and Rehendi Residence over a period of time.

Adeeb, Fayaz, Oittey, Allaam and Ishfah are suspected of transporting the weapons to Hibalhidhoo.

Oittey, Ishfah and Allaam are currently on the run outside the country, with Interpol red notice issued for all three.

Adeeb was so far been found guilty in three cases against him and sentenced to total 33 years in prison, while Fayaz is serving a 2-year prison sentence.