A hearing against former Defense Minister, Ameen Faisal, over the terrorism charges against him for having ordered President Abdulla Yameen’s detention in 2010 has been scheduled for Tuesday.
Prosecutors charged Faisal under Article 2, clause b, of the Prevention of Terrorism Act – for kidnapping and taking a hostage. The case was filed in October, 2016, and all of Faisal’s travel documents have been ceased.
The hearing is scheduled for 11:00 am.
President Yameen, who was then the parliamentary representative to Mulaku constituency, was detained in July 14, taken to Aarah island in Kaafu atoll, and released on the 23rd, nine days later.
Yameen was detained after his release from Police custody, under a Supreme Court order, amidst speculation that bribes were being funneled to MPs in a bid to remove then President Mohamed Nasheed from office.
However, Nasheed’s government maintained that Yameen was detained for his own safety following a National Security Committee decision. As Minister of Defence, Ameen Faisal would have also been on this committee.
Prosecutors are also pushing to raise terror charges against Nasheed for his alleged involvement in the detention.