Villimale' MP Mohamed Ismail, who was recently appointed to the parliament's Committee on Security Services (241 Committee), has called for the immediate dismissal of two police officers involved in the Yoga Day attack investigation.
"Both of them are criminals," Mohamed Ismail said in a post on X yesterday. He also named the two officers in his post.
The Prosecutor General's (PG) office has charged Ismail with aiding and abetting an act of terrorism and obstruction of justice in connection with the attack on the Yoga Day event organized by the Indian High Commission in 2022.
He faces between 17 and 20 years in prison if convicted of aiding and abetting terrorism and one year and seven months in prison if convicted of obstructing justice. This will disqualify the ruling party MP from the People's Majlis.
Attackers inside the Galolhu Stadium.
Police said the equipment used by the rioters who entered the venue during the Yoga Day activity belonged to the now-dissolved former opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
In his post on X, Ismail said the arrest and prosecution in connection with the Yoga Day attack was an injustice done by Assistant Police Commissioner Mohamed Riyaz. He alleged that the case was investigated on the orders of Riyaz and Deputy Police Commissioner Ismail Naveen.
He further alleged that the two officers who investigated the case had violated their police oath and remained in office after intentionally being unjust towards a person.
Attackers tried to force the gates open. -- Adhadhu File Photo
Mohamed Ismail's appointment to the 241 Committee, which holds the police and the military accountable, has been criticized by many people.
He was appointed to the committee after the ruling party decided to remove former MP Ahmed Azaan from the committee when he refused to vote in favour of an amendment to the Judicature Act.
Eighteen people, including Mohamed Ismail, are facing terrorism-related charges over the Yoga Day event attack. The trials have started in the Criminal Court, but no hearings have been held for many days.
