The Criminal Court allocated a 15-day remand period for Mohamed Ameen, a Maldivian who was included in the list of terrorists publicised by America's Department of the Treasuries Office of Foreign Affairs Control (OFAC).
According to local media outlet Mihaaru, the Police arrested the 35-year-old on October 23 following a special operation conducted in the capital city of Male'
No further details were revealed regarding the first Maldivian mentioned in OFAC's terrorist list. Following the publication of the list in August, the American government imposed sanctions on Ameen.
Initially, local authorities attempted to apprehend Ameen in relation to the bombing that took place near Sultan Park in 2007. However, he fled Maldives before an arrest could be made.
Following the incident, Interpol issued a red notice for Ameen.
He was arrested in Sri Lanka in 2011 while trying to enter Sri Lanka illegally using a forged passport. At the time, he was seized with a Maldivian and Pakistani passport. However, he was freed after being brought back to Maldives.
According to the US 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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