Supreme Court orders release on Mafthooh, arrested in Addu op

Supreme Court has annulled the order for the detention of one of the suspects arrested in the police crackdown on extremism in Addu City last May.

Mafthooh Saeed, Victory, GA. Kolamaafushi, was arrested from Addu on May 15 on suspicion of involvement in a separatist movement to spread extremism, incitement to terrorism, possession and storage of items needed to prepare IEDs, and conspiracy to harm civilians and property.

Police arrested eight suspects in the operation in Addu. Though Hithadhoo Magistrate Court initially ordered all eight suspects to custody of police for 15 days, the court released five of the suspects, including Mafthooh, when presented before the court for an extension to their remand on May 30.

The court ordered their release citing lack of sufficient evidence to keep them detained.

Prosecutor General’s Office appealed their release with the High Court on June 1, citing violation of judicial and legal standards.

The High Court overturned the decision of the Hithadhoo Magistrate Court and ordered their re-arrest on June 13.

Mafthooh subsequently filed an appeal with the Supreme Court over his re-arrest. The court overturned the High Court decision and ordered Mafthooh’s release last Wednesday.

The court said in its ruling that the police reserves the right to file for a new detainment order against Mafthooh if they find other evidence against him following a review of the intelligence report against him.