The Criminal Court has found that Iuthisaam Mohamed Saeed of Gaaf Dhaal Madaveli island is not guilty of carrying photos and videos that indicate support for terrorist group Islamic State (IS).
Iuthisaam was detained in an anti-terrorism operation by the police in Addu city. The state charged him with carrying a document, drawing or photo that shows support to a terrorist group.
According to the charge sheet, police raided the suspect’s residence and found two phones and a pen drive that contained photos and videos of IS.
Iuthisaam denied the charges and claimed that he repairs electronic devices. He said that the pen drive found in his pocket was given to him by a customer.
Judge Hussein Faiz Rashaad who presided over the case said the intelligence report submitted by the state is not enough to find him guilty. He noted that no evidence was presented to back the accusations made in the report.
Defense attorneys provided statements to prove that the pen drive belonged to someone else and the state did not counter that argument, the ruling issued last Thursday said.
Although Iuthisaam was found not guilty, he faces further charges over his alleged involvement in a plan to carry out a terror attack targeting Jumhooree Party (JP) office Kunooz in Male’ city in 2017.
