On Tuesday, the Criminal Court sentenced Ahmed Adhuham Rasheed to 23 years in jail in connection to the May 6 terror attack.
The May 6 attack targeted the life of Speaker of the Parliament and former President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, as he entered his car near his family home. An IED strapped to a motorcycle, which Adhuham remotely detonated, was used to carry out the attack. Nasheed sustained serious injures in the attack.
Adhuham confessed to having denoted the device during police investigations and in court. In the statement he gave to the police, he said he had been ready to ensure the mission was successful, even if it meant sacrificing his life.
In August, the state raised four charges against him: carrying out an act of terrorism, supporting a terrorist organization, conspiring to carry out an act of terrorism, and attempting to kill a person using sharp or dangerous weapons. While the charges carry a sentence of 40 years if convicted, he came to a plea deal with the state, which reduces his sentence to 23 years by pleading guilty to all four charges.
The state has raised charges against eight additional suspects in connection to the May 6 attack. They are Mujaz Ahmed, Abdulla Ali Manik, Mohamed Thasleem, Thahmeen Ahmed, Ali Haisham, Fahmy Ali, Mohamed Nazim, and Ishaaq.
Adhuham's trial was a secret trial that was not open to the public. However, the trials of the remaining suspects will be open.
