Lanka ‘sniper’ denied Sinhalese translator

Sri Lankan national, Lahiru Madushanka – who is accused of being a sniper hired to assassinate Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdula Gayoom has been denied his request for a translator who speaks Sinhalese to assist him during the trial.

Madushanka’s attorney, Fareesha Abdulla requested for a Sinhalese translator during the hearing held at Criminal Court on Wednesday.

Fareesha said that Madhushanka wasn’t very fluent in English, and asked that the court arrange a Sinhalese translator to translate the case documents for him.

Judge Ali Adam denied the request, saying that Madushankar had not complained of any such difficulty during the previous two hearings in the case.

The hearing was carried out with an English language translator.

Madushakar denied the charges against him during the hearing.

Other defendants in the case, former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor, Fazeel Hameed and Is’haaq Hussain had already denied the charges against them.

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

Since all the defendants had denied the charges against them, Judge Ali Adam asked the State prosecution to submit their evidence, which met with protest from the lawyers of the defendants.

Adeeb’s lawyer, Moosa Siraj protested that they had only just received the documents pertaining to the case. And that they needed time to look into it.

He said that he needed to discuss evidence submission with Adeeb, but that Maafushi Prison arrangements made it difficult for them to meet and discuss the case.

Judge Ali Adam said that the next hearing in the case, in which evidence would be submitted, would be held on August 29.

Siraj asked that the court postpone the hearing if he was unable to meet Adeeb before that.

Judge Ali Adam said that the trial would continue as scheduled, and that it was the responsibility of the State to ensure that defendants meet their lawyers.

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