An independent party, on Sunday, lodged a case at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), requesting to investigate Criminal Court’s Chief Judge Ahmed Shakeel over releasing alleged terrorist Mohamed Ameen on house arrest.
Mohamed Ameen, the first Maldivian on the list of terrorists publicised by America's Department of the Treasuries Office of Foreign Affairs Control (OFAC), was arrested in October 2019 over allegations of spreading extremist ideologies in Maldives on a large scale, in addition to recruiting and directing terrorist fighters abroad.
Chief Judge Shakeel had ordered Ameen’s release during a hearing held on February 3 to review his remand period, claiming that the accused lacked adequate medical treatment and did not receive the opportunity to exercise outside his jail cell.
The transfer was finalised on the condition that Ameen refrain from committing another terrorist offence or leaving the house.
However, officers of Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) repeatedly stated that Ameen repeatedly received medical treatment for Rheumatism.
In the case filed against Judge Shakeel, concerned parties described Ameen’s release as an act of support for the acts of terrorism the defendant is accused of, and asserted that the judge’s decision is an unlawful one made without considering the general safety of the public.
Therefore, JSC was requested to probe the case for disciplinary issues raised against Judge Shakeel.
Local authorities initially attempted to arrest Ameen in relation to the bombing that took place near Sultan Park in 2007. However, he fled the country before an arrest could be made.
Following this, Interpol released a red notice for Ameen's arrest.
He was arrested in Sri Lanka in 2011 but was freed after being brought back to Maldives. Ameen was arrested while trying to enter Sri Lanka illegally using a forged passport. At the time, he was seized with a Maldivian and Pakistani passport.
OFAC's terrorist list was compiled following the terrorist attacks on November 11, 2001 when two hijacked passenger jets flew into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in America's New York City.
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Ameen is identified as both a recruiter and key leader for ISIS in Syria, Afghanistan, and Maldives.
The department further alleged that Ameen is known to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), which is a branch of the IS based in Iraq.
Additionally, OFAC revealed that Ameen was actively engaged in leading IS recruitment through his close lieutenants, from April 2019 onwards. US authorities stated that Ameen’s subordinates hosted approximately 10 recruitment sessions per week under the guise of Islamic classes, held at several locations in Male' including Ameen’s residence.
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