A High Court hearing on the 2021 assassination attempt on Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed was canceled on Monday due to failure to appear in court.
A terror attack was carried out against Nasheed on May 6, 2021, by detonating an IED as he entered his vehicle near his residence in the capital, Male'. Nasheed sustained severe injuries in the attack, and multiple critical surgeries were performed on him to save his life. Following procedures in the Maldives, he received further treatment from Germany and the United Kingdom. The State has charged six people in connection to the May 6 attack. The accused are Mujaz Ahmed, Thahmeen Ahmed, Ali Haisham, Fahmy Ali, Mohamed Nazim, and Ishaaq.
A hearing in the case was scheduled for 9:00 am on Monday. However, the Correctional Service informed ten minutes before the hearing was scheduled to begin that the suspects against whom charges have been raised cannot appear before the court at the designated time. The Court said the accused could not be brought to Male' from Maafushi Prison due to rough seas.
The court said it would consider holding another hearing on Saturday after consulting with lawyers.
At the last hearing in the case, some of the evidence was kept confidential at the request of the State. A 15-day period was granted for pre-trial motions.
The court has granted permission to observe the case after Nasheed's lawyers requested it. Observers were present at the court to attend Monday's hearing.
The bench had earlier announced that it would complete recording the testimony of the prosecution witnesses in the case next month. The witnesses will testify on the 9th, 12th, and 13th of June at 1:00 pm.
