‘Sniper’ to be kept jailed pending trial outcome

Criminal Court has ordered for alleged Sri Lankan sniper Lahiru Madushanka to be kept jailed, pending the outcome of the trial.

Madushanka was charged last week after his arrest in October, 2015 for attempted assassination of Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The prosecution alleges that Madushanka was contracted to assassinate President Yameen by a group of Maldivians – lead by former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor – who is currently in prison after being found guilty for a number of other offenses.

Adeeb and Fazeel Hameed are accused of actively searching for a hitman to assassinate President Yameen and Is’haaq Hussain is accused of transporting the payment to Madushaka – fully aware what they payment was for.

Combined file photos of (From L-R) Is'haaq, Madushanka, Adeeb and Fazeel.

All three were charged along with Madushanka last week.

During the hearing held on Wednesday, all four defendants said that the charges against them were clear, and that they wished to proceed with the assistance of a lawyer.

Judge Ali Adam gave them three days to hire a lawyer.

Madushanka spoke during the hearing with the assistance of a translator.