Colonel Nazim raises suspicion on presidential speedboat blast

Former Defense Minister and explosives expert, Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim, has expressed concern regarding the events surrounding the explosion aboard the presidential speedboat in 2015.

Nazim voiced his suspicions after Ibrahim Muaz, previously staunch supporter and spokesperson of former president, Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, made contentious claims about the 2015 blast. Muaz, who was onboard the vessel at the time of the blast, claimed that no sparks were visible during the explosion while videos of the incident with and without visible sparks of fire were circulated on social media.

Former vice president, Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison for orchestrating the blast in an attempt to assassinate then president, Yameen Abdul Gayyoom.

Following Muaz's controversial allegations, Maldives Third-Way Democrats (MTD), the new political party established by the jailed VP called to re-investigate the blast. According to reports, the police are currently investigating the case.

Speaking for the fist time about the 2015 explosion, Colonel Nazim, who served on the Maldives National Defense Force for several years said there are some inconsistencies and suspicions regarding the events surrounding the incident. Nazim said that from his years of experience serving on the Maldives National Defense Force and the extensive explosives trainings he underwent, he is able to identify that an explosion resulting from an RDX compound, which is a more energetic explosive than TNT, would leave behind traces, and the magnitude of such an explosion would be much higher that what was witnessed.

During his time in jail after being convicted for the possession of a pistol, the colonel had met some former captains of the defense force, who corroborated his suspicions regarding the explosion, revealed Nazim. In the event that any suspicions are raised regarding a case, the investigators are obliged to re-investigate and confirm the details of the case, added Nazim.

Nazim also asserted the importance of reviewing Adeeb's conviction.

The explosion aboard the presidential speedboat was one of the most shocking events of 2015. President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom was unhurt in the incident although the first-lady, Fathmath Ibrahim sustained various injuries.