Adeeb, Papa say charge unclear in Hibalhidhoo weapons case

Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor and former Head of MNDF Weapons Ordinance Unit Ahmed Fayaz Ali Riza (Papa) said that the charge against them was unclear, when state prosecution read the charges against them in the case of military weapons found in the lagoon of B. Hibalhidhoo, on Sunday afternoon at Criminal Court.

Prosecution has charged five individuals in the case – Adeeb and Papa, and Former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Normalization Committee member – Mohamed Hussain (Oittey), Mohamed Allaam Latheef, and Ahmed Ishfah Ali.

When prosecution read the charges, both Adeeb and Papa said that the charge against them was unclear, and Papa went on further to say that the charge against him had major legal issues.

Prosecution had read the charges repeatedly, but both Adeeb and Papa said that the charges were unclear, and requested to hire defense attorneys.

The judge said that the hearings would start on August 3, and provided until then for Adeeb and Papa to hire lawyers.

The three others charged in the case did not attend court.

State prosecution requested that he trial he held in their absence as the crime had been carried out jointly by all those charged.

Prosecution requested that the case against Adeeb and Papa be carried out if state fails to summon the others to court.

The prosecution said that they had sent notice to the addresses of Oittey, Allaam and Ishfah, and that all three were living abroad on the run.

Papa 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.

Interpol has issued red notice for Oittey, Allaam and Ishfah’s arrest.