Nasheed bombing trial remains stalled four years after failed assassination
Four years after the attempt on former President Nasheed's life, the trial drags on with no convictions, multiple delays, and shifting judge panels.
Artwork: Dosain
06 May, 7:03 PM
Mohamed Saif Fathih
Today is the fourth anniversary of an extremist attack in Malé that almost claimed the life of former president Mohamed Nasheed. Despite extensive judicial proceedings, no suspects have been convicted.
This is part of the Maldives Independent’s timeline series, looking back at the stories we missed during our five-year hiatus from January 2020 - January 2025.
6 May 2021
An assassination attempt was made on president Mohamed Nasheed. An improvised explosive device (IED) planted in a motorcycle exploded at the corner of Neeloafaru Hingun and Majeedhee Magu at 20:39pm, as he was walking from his residence towards Majeedhee Magu. The IED was packed with ball bearings, which act like bullets upon detonation. Some were later found embedded in the walls of shops across the busy thoroughfare.
Nasheed was rushed to ADK Hospital, where he was immediately moved to the operating theatre. According to doctors, although he complained of severe pain he did not lose consciousness, until being sedated for the surgeries which followed. He underwent 16 hours of surgery.
His bodyguard sustained injuries to his spine, requiring surgery later in India.
8 May 2021
Police released CCTV footage and images showing a man near the Athama Palace cinema activating a remote detonator. The public was asked to help identify and apprehend him. That same day two suspects, 21-year-old Mujaz Ahmed (Ma. Feyruge, Malé) and 32-year-old Thahumeen Ahmed, (Folheymaa, Ga. Kondey) were arrested. Both had prior criminal records.
9 May 2021
19-year-old Ahmed Adham (Hiyaa, V. Thinadhoo) was arrested by riot police at his home in Hulhumalé. At his remand hearing, the prosecution alleged he had pressed the remote that detonated the bomb. Adham reportedly met with Mujaz after the explosion, and Mujaz helped him dispose of his belongings. The motorcycle that carried the bomb belonged to Thahumeen. All three denied the charges, but were deemed a threat to public safety and remanded for 15 days.
13 May 2021
Nasheed was flown to Germany for further medical treatment where he underwent several skin grafts and other minor surgeries.
18 May 2021
Abdulla Ali Manik was arrested in Malé for allegedly spreading extremist ideology. He had previously served a 10-year prison sentence for leading the extremist group in Himandhoo. However, he escaped and was discovered to be living in Gdh. Thinadhoo in 2009. While being brought back to prison on a boat, he jumped and escaped. He was again found in 2010, living in disguise in the industrial island of Thilafushi in Malé atoll.
19 May 2021
Ahmed Fathih, a former police intelligence officer, was arrested during a police operation in B. Dharavandhoo. He was accused of helping Adham escape the scene on his motorcycle and was remanded for 15 days.
20 May 2021
27-year-old Mohamed Nazim was arrested at his apartment in Hulhumalé along with Hassan Yaseen and Mohamed Zumal Zareer.
28 May 2021
Three more suspected extremists were arrested, including 27-year-old Ali Haisham who was accused of planting the bomb.
2 July 2021
Nasheed was moved from Germany to London, UK.
6 July 2021
Further arrests were made, including Ishaq and Fahmy Ali.
21 July 2021
Police completed the investigation and submitted charges to the Prosecutor General’s Office against Adham, Mujaz, and Thahumeen. The Criminal Court ordered their continued detention pending trial.
24 July 2021
Mohamed Thasleem was arrested. He had previously been arrested in 2017 on bomb-making charges but released. He was accused of manufacturing the IED and leading an extremist cell targeting President Nasheed, whom he branded an apostate.
On the same day, police revealed the names of six individuals formally accused in the case:
Ali Haisham (Nooreege, N. Manadhoo)
Fahmy Ali (Hudhuruvaage, Ga. Vilin’gili)
Ishaq (M. Kudhehi, Malé)
Abdulla Ali Manik (Bahaaruge, H.Dh.Molhadhoo)
Mohamed Thasleem (Alanaasige, Ha. Hoarafushi)
Mohamed Nazim (Asareege, Aa. Maalhos)
29 July 2021
Police completed and submitted the case against Ali Haisham to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
3 August 2021
Adham, Mujaz, Thahumeen, and Haisham were formally charged:
Adham: Terrorism, conspiracy, supporting a terrorist group, and attempted murder. He pleaded guilty and signed a plea deal; charges were reduced to terrorism and support for a terrorist group.
Mujaz: Terrorism and aiding a fugitive.
Thahumeen: Terrorism, conspiracy, support for a terrorist group, and transporting explosives.
Haisham: Terrorism, conspiracy, and transporting explosives.
6 August 2021
Prosecution refused to file charges against former intelligence officer Ahmed Fathih, citing the lack of evidence.
16 August 2021
A three-judge panel was formed to hear the case, consisting of Judges Adam Mohamed, Sofwath Habeeb, and Mohamed Misbah.
21 August 2021
Haisham was remanded for the remainder of the trial.
Trials for Adham, Mujaz, Thahumeen, and Haisham began. Adham and Haisham were allowed time to appoint lawyers.
13 September 2021
Fahmy Ali, Ishaq, and Nazim were charged:
Fahmy: Participation in an act of terrorism.
Nazim: Conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Ishaq: Transporting explosives, conspiracy, and participation in terrorism.
21 September 2021
As Adham had accepted the plea deal, his trial took place separately.
Mujaz, Thahumeen, and Haisham denied the charges. The prosecution submitted extensive evidence, including:
Mujaz: 103 oral, 80 written documents.
Thahumeen: 113 oral, 86 written documents (24 confidential).
On the same day, the first hearing for Fahmy, Ishaq, and Nazim was held. Ishaq requested a closed trial. All were remanded until the remainder of the trial.
11 October 2021
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih welcomed Nasheed upon his return at Velana International Airport from London, UK via Dubai.
Nasheed’s security was beefed up with a dozen bodyguards, radio signal jammers and comprehensive security sweeps.
20 October 2021
Second preliminary hearing for Fahmy, Ishaq, and Nazim. All pleaded not guilty. The court denied the request for a closed-door trial.
The same day, Thasleem and Abdulla Ali Abdulla Ali Manik were charged under the Terrorism Act for supporting a terrorist group, although not for the bombing directly.
14 December 2021
Adham was sentenced to 23 years in prison, under the plea deal.
9 January 2022
Thasleem and Abdulla Ali Manik pleaded not guilty, arguing that they could not possibly be affiliated with ISIS as the group was defunct.
26 January 2022
The court rejected Thasleem and Abdulla Ali Manik’s claims made in the previous hearing and decided to proceed with the trial.
16 March 2022
Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem raised concerns over trial delays. On the same day, Nazim, Yaseen, and Zumal denied charges of supporting extremism as evidenced by ISIS propaganda photos and writings found in their possession.
28 March 2022
The court decided that the trial of Mujaz, Thahumeen, and Haisham would follow civil standards, reducing the standards of burden of proof.
31 March 2022
First evidence hearing in the case against Thasleem and Abdulla Ali Manik. The court announced future hearing dates:
May 26, June 15, July 18, August 2 – Presentation of evidence
August 21 – Summary
September 20 – Verdict
6 May 2022
Parliament raised concern over trial delays and lack of clarity about financiers and planners.
10 May 2022
The Prosecutor General’s Office clarified that lack of current charges did not rule out future charges.
15 May 2022
Trial schedules for the remaining accused were announced:
June 9–13: Testimony
May 30: Next hearing
The prosecution requested confidentiality for 22 pieces of evidence; defence requested the same for six.
30 May 2022
Hearing cancelled due to bad weather.
4 June 2022
Rescheduled hearing held. Defence contested the use of a remote detonator by Adham and asked to reject late-stage prosecution evidence.
9 June 2022
The court ordered some evidence to remain confidential.
Nazim presented two defence witnesses: only one accepted.
Haisham presented seven witnesses, including three men previously captured in Syria. However, Thahumeen missed the deadline for witness submission.
12 June 2022
Judge Adam Mohamed announced that he had received a letter from Ishaq, which revealed that Ishaq’s son Mohamed Iufaf Ishaq had threatened the judge during Hassan Shifaz (Ishaq’s brother and Iufaf’s uncle)’s trial. Hassan Shifaz was being tried for the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed. The judge then recused himself from the case.
15 June 2022
Thasleem and Abdulla Ali Manik’s trial resumed.
Police alleged that attacks on three tourists in early 2020 in Hulhumale were perpetrated by Abdulla Ali Manik as revenge for the state taking custody of his children for failure to complete vaccination and send them to school.
Thasleem was identified as the IED expert.
17 June 2022
Judge Dheebanaz Fahmy was appointed to replace Adam Mohamed.
24 August 2022
Judge Hussain Faiz replaced Dheebanaz Fahmy after her appointment to the High Court.
19 September 2022
Two anonymous witnesses testified against Abdulla Ali Manik. One claimed Abdulla Ali Manik branded the Maldivian state as one of shirk and preached that it was permissible to shed the blood of all who recognised the Maldivian state.
6 November 2022
The trial adjourned after an anonymous prosecution witness repeatedly revealed his/her name and stated that they were being forced by the state to testify.
28 November 2022
The judge panel was dissolved. The case was reassigned to Judge Sofwath Habeeb.
7 March 2023
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s nominee to observe the trial proceedings, Abbas Faiz, criticised the trial delays.
19 April 2023
New schedule issued: verdict expected 31 August 2023.
10 May 2023
The court provided Thahumeen with an opportunity to present evidence as it was deemed that he could not do so on time due to the previous lawyer’s negligence. The accused submitted six pieces, including claims of alibi and alleged inability to afford a motorcycle.
21 May 2023
Two defence witnesses of Thahumeen were rejected.
4 July 2023
The High Court ruled that the criminal court must accept the previously rejected two witnesses.
24 September 2023
Mohamed Thasleem was found not guilty. Abdulla Ali Manik was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.
30 September 2023
Mohamed Muizzu’s opposition People’s National Congress (PNC) wins the presidential election with 54 percent of the vote.
29 October 2023
Judge Habeeb said the trial cannot be expedited due to space constraints. Hearings scheduled for November 23 and 27, 2023.
22 November 2023
A witness testified that he was unsure if the IED motorcycle was bought by Thahumeen, although he remembers selling it to an individual who identified himself by the name of Thahumeen.
25 November 2023
The trial was cancelled after the state failed to produce the accused in court.
25 December 2023
The PG’s Office appealed against dismissal of charges against Thasleem.
22 February 2024
The trial of the remaining accused was held closed-door upon the prosecution’s request.
28 November 2024
Dr Abdulla Niyaf testified at the trial that President Nasheed flatlined during the life-saving surgery after the bomb blast, diving into details of his injuries. The surgery lasted 16 hours and doctors removed 10 ball bearings from his body.
The judge stated that it was unviable for all the listed witnesses to be physically brought to the court to provide testimony. The suspects agreed not to contest the state’s evidence proving injuries sustained by Nasheed and passersby. The judge requested the defendants’ lawyers identify all non-contested witnesses in the next hearing.
No date for the next hearing was announced.
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