Parliament asks govt to re-examine issues uncovered in May 6 inquiry

Then-Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed presides over a parliamentary sitting. (Photo/People's Majlis)

Parliament’s Security Services Committee (241 Committee) has decided ask the government to re-examine the issues it uncovered in its inquiry into the 2021 assassination attempt on former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed.

At a meeting held on Monday, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim, who represents the Dhiggaru constituency and sits in the 241 Committee, said that one of the biggest issues the secret inquiry report highlights is the “lack of coordination.” He was referring to the lack of coordination between the security services in preventing the attack.

Nazim said that the National Counter-Terrorism Center told the committee that coordination of intelligence between security services remains poor, and suggested bringing the issues uncovered in the inquiry to the attention of the incumbent administration.

Deputy Speaker, Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim. (Photo/People's Majlis)

“Why don’t we bring this to the attention of the current government leaders? I ask the chair to clarify this,” he said.

The committee’s chair, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem said the committee has already written a letter to the government, and will dispatch it sometime Monday.

He did not detail the contents of the letter.

The attack targeting Nasheed with a homemade remote-controlled IED took place on May 6, 2021, as he exited his residence in Male’. Nasheed sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, while three members of his security detail and two bystanders sustained minor wounds.

The May 6 trials has produced only two convictions so far, that against Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, Hiyaa, V. Thinadhoo, who confessed to detonating the IED. He signed a plea deal with the prosecution and received a reduced sentence of 23 years in prison in 2021.

Another defendant, Abdulla Ali Manik, Bahaaruge, HA. Molhadhoo, received five years for supporting a terror organization.

A total of nine people were charged in connection to the May 6 attack, including Adhuham and Ali Manik. The others are: