Ex-minister pleads not guilty over Yameen’s ‘protective custody’
In a statement he gave to the police last September, President Yameen said he was taken by the military to the presidential retreat island Aarah against his will in July 2010 and expressed his desire to seek charges over the “unlawful arrest”.
23 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
Former Defence Minister Ameen Faisal pleaded not guilty Tuesday to terrorism charges over the military’s “protective custody” of then-MP Abdulla Yameen at the presidential retreat island in July 2010.
Ameen, who served as former President Mohamed Nasheed’s defence minister and then national security advisor, was charged with abduction under the now-defunct 1990 Anti-Terrorism Act. He faces up to 15 years in jail if found guilty.
At the second hearing of the trial, the judge granted Ameen 15 days to prepare his defence after his lawyer said the case documents were shared on the day of the hearing. Witnesses will be called at the next trial date, the judge said.
The prosecution’s case documents reportedly included a transcript of a press conference by Nasheed as well as statements given to the police by former Chief of Defence Forces Moosa Ali Jaleel, former Prosecutor General Ahmed Muiz, and President Yameen.
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