State witness retracts statement in sniper trial, alleges police coercion

One of the State witnesses in the trial against former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor and two other Maldivians, as well as alleged Sri Lankan sniper Lahiru Madhushanka for a conspiracy to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has retracted his statement to the police, alleging that it was coerced out of him.

This Thursday’s hearing in the trial was held behind closed doors.

However, “Sun” has been informed that one of the two State witnesses who testified in court during the hearing claimed that the statement was given by him under duress.

The witness said that police arrested his younger brother and threatened him, forcing him into giving the statement with the threat that the same would be done to him if he didn’t comply.

He denied any knowledge of a conspiracy to murder the President.

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

State alleges that Adeeb and Fazeel Hameed, along with a group of other Maldivian individuals conspired to assassinate President Yameen on October, 2015, that Lahiru Madhushanka was a sniper contracted for the hit, and that Is’haaq Hussain had delivered the payment to Lahiru Madhushanka with full knowledge regarding what the payment was for.

Previous hearings in the trial was open to public, but the media and public was barred from attending the court hearing held this Thursday.