Chitchat Guess who tried to assasinate president with a bomb?

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/0...200340443.html

Maldives jails ex-VP for president 'assassination plot'
Ahmed Adeeb sentenced to 15 years in prison just days after getting a separate 10-year conviction on "terrorism" charge.

Adeeb was once a close confidant of president Gayoom [File pic: Reuters]Adeeb was once a close confidant of president Gayoom [File pic: Reuters]

Former Maldives deputy leader Ahmed Adeeb has been convicted of plotting to assassinate the president, and sentenced to 15 years in prison - four days after being sent to jail for 10 years in another case.

Following a closed-door trial on Thursday, the Criminal Court found ex-vice president Adeeb and two of his military bodyguards guilty of attempting to kill President Yameen Abdul Gayoom, by setting off a bomb on his speedboat in September 2015.

Gayoom escaped unhurt, but his wife and two others were slightly injured.

After being enlisted to look into the incident, FBI investigators reported there was no evidence that a bomb was behind the blast.

READ MORE: Amnesty says human rights in Maldives deteriorating

Yet, Adeeb was arrested by the police and tried in secret following allegations he wanted to topple Gayoom.

With the sentencing, almost all of Gayoom's key rivals are either living in exile or in jail in the island nation, which has been rocked by political turmoil in recent years.

Adeeb's lawyer, Moosa Siraj, told the Maldives Independent website that the court warned him not to criticise the trial.

"The Criminal Court has barred me from calling the trial unfair, but we have concerns and intend to launch an appeal immediately," Siraj said.

Another lawyer, who declined to be named, said Adeeb's two bodyguards who were also convicted on Thursday were sentenced to 10 years each.
Political turmoil

Reporters were barred from the trial after the court invoked national security concerns and said it would not make the hearings or verdict public.

Adeeb, 34, once a close confidant of Gayoom, had enjoyed a meteoric rise until he was dramatically impeached in November after being accused of the assassination plot.

On Sunday, Adeeb was jailed for 10 years on an unrelated "terrorism" charge relating to his role in cracking down on an anti-government protest in May last year.
Maldives former president accuses security forces of mistreating him

President Gayoom is accused of jailing and silencing dissidents in the country, a popular holiday destination for honeymooners.

The latest developments come weeks after ex-leader Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected president, was granted asylum in Britain.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison on controversial "terrorism" charges last year, but was allowed to travel to the UK for surgery in January and was granted political asylum last month.

About four months ago, the president also secured the jailing of Sheikh Imran Abdulla, leader of the opposition Islamist Adhaalath Party, for 12 years.



http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-...ailed-15-years


Former Maldives vice-president Ahmed Adeeb jailed for 15 years for plotting to kill President Yameen Abdul Gayoom

Gayoom escaped unhurt in September blast while he was travelling by boat from airport to capital Male
PUBLISHED : Friday, 10 June, 2016, 2:31pm
UPDATED : Friday, 10 June, 2016, 2:30pm

Associated Press
Associated Press
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A Maldives court has convicted the country’s former vice-president of masterminding a plot to kill the president by exploding a bomb on his speedboat last year and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

Ahmed Adeeb must serve a total of 25 years after the same criminal court sentenced him earlier this week to 10 years for possessing firearms. Two of his military body guards were given 10 years each for being part of the plot. Adeeb is the fourth high-profile politician to be jailed on terrorism charges since Yameen Abdul Gayoom was elected President in 2013. The South Asian country is best known for its luxury island resorts.

Former Maldives vice-president gets 10 years on terrorism charge

Adeeb’s lawyers said the court had barred them from speaking on the fairness of the trial even though they were allowed little time to prepare their defence. However they will appeal, lawyer Moosa Siraj said. Adeeb still faces two more charges against him – abuse of authority and corruption.

Gayoom escaped unhurt in the September blast while he was travelling by boat from the airport to the capital of this archipelago state. But his wife, an aide and bodyguard were wounded.

The government stood by its claim that the mysterious blast was an assassination attempt even though FBI investigators concluded they saw no evidence of a bomb blast. Yameen appointed Adeeb, his once trusted protege, as Vice-President, last July after sacking his running mate in the 2013 election. However, Adeeb became a suspect immediately after the blast and days later he was arrested and charged with plotting to kill the President. On Tuesday he was convicted in a separate case of possessing firearms, prohibited under Maldivian law.

[Human rights groups have accused Maldives’ President Yameen Abdul Gayoom of jailing opponents and potential challengers in order to tighten his grip on power. Photo: AP]

Human rights groups have accused Gayoom of jailing opponents and potential challengers in order to tighten his grip on power. Maldives former President Mohamed Nasheed, former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim and Sheik Imran Abdulla, leader of a prominent opposition party, are the other leaders given lengthy prison terms since Gayoom assumed office. All the cases were criticised for a lack of due process.

Soon after Adeeb’s conviction the judge also sentenced a former chief prosecutor to 17 years in prison for conspiring to have Gayoom arrested with a fake arrest warrant. Muhthaz Muhsin had been detained since February along with a judge for allegedly issuing an arrest warrant against Gayoom for corruption.

Britain grants refugee status to Maldives’ former president Nasheed

Maldives has a long history of being ruled by autocratic leaders. Gayoom’s half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ruled the country from 1978 to 2008 until he lost to Nasheed in the country’s first multi-party election. Nasheed resigned in 2012 after weeks of public protests over his role in jailing a sitting judge. Last year he was convicted of ordering the military to kidnap the judge and sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was allowed to travel to Britain earlier this year apparently for back surgery and since he’s been given asylum there.

Earlier this month, Nasheed, Gayoom’s running mate Mohamed Jameel, who also lives in Britain and supports Nazim, and Adeeb formed a united opposition in exile aiming to oust Gayoom from office.







https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...k-on-president

Maldives court convicts politician of bomb attack on president

Former vice-president sentenced to 15 years for explosion on speedboat that injured president’s wife
Ahmed Adeeb
Former Maldivian vice-president Ahmed Adeeb will appeal against conviction, according to his lawyer. Photograph: EPA

AP in Malé

Thursday 9 June 2016 22.52 BST
Last modified on Thursday 9 June 2016 23.26 BST

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A Maldives court has convicted the country’s former vice-president of masterminding a plot to kill the president by exploding a bomb on his speedboat last year and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

Ahmed Adeeb must serve a total of 25 years after the same criminal court sentenced him earlier this week to 10 years for possessing firearms. Two of his military bodyguards were given 10 years each for being part of the plot.

Adeeb is the fourth high-profile politician to be jailed on terrorism charges since Yameen Abdul Gayoom was elected president in 2013. The south Asian country is best known for its luxury island resorts.

Adeeb’s lawyers said the court had barred them from speaking on the fairness of the trial even though they were allowed little time to prepare their defence. However, they will appeal against Thursday’s verdict, lawyer Moosa Siraj said.

Adeeb still faces two more charges: abuse of authority and corruption.

Gayoom escaped unhurt in the September blast while he was travelling by boat from the airport to the capital of the archipelago state. But his wife, an aide and a bodyguard were wounded.

The government stood by its claim that the mysterious blast was an assassination attempt even though FBI investigators concluded they saw no evidence of a bomb blast.

Yameen appointed Adeeb, his once-trusted protege, as vice-president last July after sacking his running mate in the 2013 election.

However, Adeeb became a suspect immediately after the blast and days later he was arrested and charged with plotting to kill the president. On Tuesday he was convicted in a separate case of possessing firearms, which is prohibited under Maldivian law.

Human rights groups have accused Gayoom of jailing opponents and potential challengers in order to tighten his grip on power.

Maldives opposition critical of 'draconian' anti-Islamic State law

Maldives former president Mohamed Nasheed, former defence minister Mohamed Nazim and Sheik Imran Abdulla, the leader of a prominent opposition party, are the other leaders given lengthy prison terms since Gayoom assumed office. All the cases were criticised for a lack of due process.

Soon after Adeeb’s conviction the judge also sentenced a former chief prosecutor to 17 years in prison for conspiring to have Gayoom arrested with a fake arrest warrant. The prosecutor, Muhthaz Muhsin, had been detained since February along with a judge for allegedly issuing an arrest warrant against Gayoom for corruption.

Maldives has a long history of being ruled by autocratic leaders. Gayoom’s half-brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, ruled the country from 1978 to 2008 until he lost to Nasheed in the country’s first multiparty election.

Nasheed resigned in 2012 after weeks of public protests over his role in jailing a judge. Last year he was convicted of ordering the military to kidnap the judge and sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was allowed to travel to the UK earlier this year apparently for back surgery and has since been given asylum.

Earlier this month, Nasheed, Gayoom’s running mate Mohamed Jameel, who also lives in Britain and supports Nazim, and Adeeb formed a united opposition in exile aiming to oust Gayoom from office.


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