The Democrats have called for a full investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Mohamed Nasheed four years ago.
The bomb attack to assassinate Nasheed on May 6, 2021 came as he walked with security officials from his home to his car waiting on Majeedhee Magu. An improvised explosive device attached to a parked motorcycle on the corner was remotely detonated.
In a statement to mark the fourth anniversary of the attack, the Democrats expressed concern as those involved had not been identified.
"We note with concern that he has not been able to get justice year after year. Apart from the conviction of one of the accused who confessed, no one else has been convicted in connection with the attack. Investigations have not been able to identify those behind the attack," the statement read.
Democrats stressed that Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon had claimed that he was in possession of some new information about the attack. However, the party expressed concern because no action had been taken following the new information.
“Although the Defense Minister of this government told Parliament on March 25, 2024 that he had received new information on the matter, we are concerned that no action has been taken by any state institution,” the statement said.
Democrats say justice has not been delivered in the attack on Nasheed because the seriousness of the case has been lost.
"Although this was a premeditated and organized terrorist attack, and while terrorism is among the most serious of violent crimes and is to be dealt with under special legal procedures, we believe that the seriousness of this has been lost," the party said.
"We reiterate our call for a thorough investigation into the terrorist attack on President Mohamed Nasheed and to find out those who were behind it. We call on the state authorities to find justice for him."
The case
Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed was found guilty of remotely detonating the bomb from the Athama Palace building as Nasheed walked to his car on the night of May 6, 2021. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
In addition to Adhuham, Abdulla Ali Manik, another suspect arrested in the case, was convicted of supporting a terrorist organization and sentenced to five years in prison.
Adhuham.
But co-defendant Mohamed Thasleem was found not guilty of the same charge.
Following their arrests, police said at the time that they were the architects of the bomb attack on May 6, 2021. However, after the investigation, they were only charged with supporting the terrorist group Islamic State (IS).
The Prosecutor General’s office decided not to raise charges against Ahmed Fathih over lack of evidence to convict. Several other suspects arrested in the case have not been convicted.
The bomb was made with razor balls as shrapnel. The razor blades had penetrated very close to Nasheed's heart. He was rushed to ADK Hospital for life-saving surgery that lasted 16 hours.
After receiving treatment at ADK, Nasheed later travelled to Germany for medical care with the assistance of the German government.
