The Supreme Court has reversed the High Court’s decision to free Mohamed Ameen, who is accused of being the Maldives’ top recruiter and leader for the terrorist group ISIS, and ordered that his trial be resumed.
Ameen, the first Maldivian on the list of terrorists publicised by America’s Department of the Treasuries Office of Foreign Affairs Control (OFAC), was detained in October 2019 on suspicion of promoting extremist beliefs on a wide scale in the Maldives, as well as recruiting and leading terrorist combatants abroad.
The accusations against Ameen were dismissed by the High Court when the state failed to submit charges by the deadline of September 16, 2021. However, the High Court issued a MoniCon order barring Ameen from leaving the capital city of Male’.
The High Court ruled that because Ameen was remanded under the Criminal Procedure Code, the state must file the case in accordance with the penal court standards. The state filed the case after the duration specified in the criminal code had expired but within the time frame specified in the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
But the Supreme Court decided on Sunday that, while a suspect in an anti-terrorism investigation may be apprehended under the Criminal Procedure Code, the prosecution would be based on the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The Supreme Court also decided that Ameen’s trial in the Criminal Court may resume from where it was halted by the High Court.
Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan presided over the Supreme Court hearing, which was attended by Justices Aisha Shujoon and Husnu al Suood, all of whom unanimously agreed with the judgement.
