Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb threatened to “destroy” former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim two months before police raided the retired colonel’s apartment and discovered a pistol and bullets, Nazim’s lawyer has alleged.
Presenting the defence’s opening statement at today’s hearing of Nazim’s trial on charges of weapons possession, Maumoon Hameed claimed Nazim had found out in October last year that Specialist Operations (SO) police officers chopped down the city council’s areca palm trees on Majeedhee Magu on orders from Adeeb.
Upon learning that the defence minister had complained to President Abdulla Yameen of the incident, Hameed claimed Adeeb called and threatened Nazim in a conference call with Home Minister Umar Naseer.
Hameed said Naseer had expressed his displeasure regarding the threats in a text message to President Yameen.
The police professional standards command subsequently discovered that money was deposited to the bank accounts of the SO SWAT team officers, Hameed claimed.
Hameed said the SO officers learned of Nazim’s objections to the president and bore animosity towards the then-defence minister, alleging that the same officers involved in chopping down the areca palm trees comprised the SWAT team that raided Nazim’s apartment in the early hours of January 18.
Fabricated
During the opening statement, Judge Abdul Bari Yousuf repeatedly interrupted Hameed, advised the lawyer not to mention persons not involved in the case, and asked what the allegations had to do with the charges.
Hameed said the basis of the defence was that the evidence against Nazim was “fabricated” in order to “frame” him, alleging that Adeeb – also deputy leader of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) – had planned and orchestrated the setup.
Hameed told the press last week that a police forensic report shared with defence lawyers stated that fingerprints lifted from the weapon did not match either Nazim or any of his family members.
Adeeb had also called Nazim two days before the raid and asked where he lived and how many rooms were in his apartment, Hameed continued, noting that Adeeb had previously been to the apartment for tea.
Judge Bari suggested that Adeeb could have forgotten the address.
Shocked
Speaking to Minivan News today, Adeeb said he was “very shocked” to hear of the serious allegations, which he dismissed as “all lies” and “very weak”.
Adeeb said he regretted that the trial was becoming “politicised” and suggested that the ex-colonel’s lawyer and not Nazim himself was responsible for the allegations.
Nazim was a close friend, he added, and the pair had discussed official matters up until the former Defence Minister’s arrest.
Adeeb noted that Nazim did not mention any of the allegations at a press conference after his dismissal from the cabinet.
Hameed did not have any experience in criminal defence, Adeeb continued, suggesting that he might bear a grudge for not being appointed Prosecutor General last year.
In July 2014, parliament approved Muhthaz Muhsin as PG after PPM MPs decided to endorse the former Criminal Court judge despite the party’s leader, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, urging ruling party MPs to vote for his nephew Maumoon Hameed.
Hurried trial
State prosecutors will present anonymous testimony by three officers involved in the raid, a crime scene report by police officer Mohamed Areef, a report on the weapons authenticity by MNDF’s Mohamed Nazeem and a confidential letter from the army stating the pistol and bullets did not belong to the state.
Confidential documents from a pen drive confiscated from Nazim’s apartment will also be presented to show the former Defence Minister harbored the intent to use and was capable of using the pistol, state prosecutor Adam Arif said.
Further evidence includes a statement by Nazim in which he “admitted” the police had discovered the weapons in his presence, Arif continued.
The Prosecutor General’s Office is also awaiting analysis of DNA samples lifted from the weapons, he added.
Hameed, then contended the state had filed charges without completing a full investigation, and appealed to judges’ to dismiss the state’s case.
Noting the Constitution declares any evidence obtained unlawfully as inadmissible, Hameed once again pointed to what he called several irregularities during the police raid.
Judge Yoosuf, however, told Hameed to focus on the content of the evidence, stating the bench had taken note of the defence’s concerns.
The Criminal Court gave Nazim three days to submit evidence in his defense, and denied a request to review its decision to keep the former Defence Minister in police custody until the end of the trial.
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Threatening is a crime is this nation?
Puuuleease!
hmmm sounds like the cats are out of the bag.
and i think the further this court case goes the more secrets will be revealed.
and its no surprise that Umar is not been seen or heard for sometime. probably laying low to save himself or following orders.
so these SO officers are like the topcats of the crooked and corrupt cops who can be bought and sold as their masters pleases.
this is good, virus fighting virus. and more good stuff to be revealed like who really murdered the late and respected Dr. Afrashim.
And i really don't think that pissing off Nazim is such a good idea. he's a self made man who knows what he is doing. and not an idiot to keep weapons laying around the house.
think whoever is trying to frame him has bite off more than he can chew.
im pretty sure Nazim will come back with a vengeance. he has manners and a class, not like these political clowns who's tweets are as bad as the rowdy on the street.
much respect to Nazim. i'd vote for him if he become a presidential candidate. because for sure they are going to convict Anni one way or another just to eliminate him as a presidential candidate. and right now Nazim is the only option.
"the enemy of my enemy is my friend"
Well well. What the lawyer says makes more sense than all the "evidence" produced by the prosecution so far.
As for the Acting Defence Minister's claim that the lawyer lacks experience,
Lack of experience and common sense explains how someone can think an experienced veteran soldier who also happens to be Defence Minister will bother to keep a pistol with just three rounds of ammunition.
This case and the other one involving ex-president Nasheed are just two examples of selective (in)justice involving a rotten judiciary, a biased and incompetent police force and a government that has lost any semblance of legitimacy.
So nobody's above the law, eh?
Do not ever undermine the capacity of Hameed. He a true professional and he does not at all worried if he is PG or not. Adeeb is mistaken. Adeeb should understand that he is not at all fit to asses the capacity of the best brains in Maldives.
Adeeb, please keep the lawyer away and accept your illegal tasks you carried out. Be honest. If not Almighty Allah will be punishing you no sooner. You are buddy of Yameen. Your existence is very short Adeeb. Hameed whereas will remain in his profession till his death. Do not simply insult innocent people.
Isn't the delay in arresting Nazim when weapons were "discovered" in his home enough to prove that he wasn't guilty of atleast this crime? Adeebro, you corrupt SOB, the public is shocked that your corruption allegations are going untried! Have you repaid the money you took from MPL? That was state's money Therefore, the public's money!
I personally advised then-president Nasheed to liquidate the police, judiciary, army and prosecution departments, but nooooo, he had to be kind to them.
I'm sure lessons have been learned, and that after the revolution, Nasheed and his 'humane' agenda will have no place or power to halt the purges that will ensue.
@ Maldivian
Politicians do not have human agendas. They only have self interest.
Nasheed tried the 'humanistic' approach assuming that it will give him power. But he faced the brutal reality of power once elected and it turned out to be anything but humanistic
Hopefully lessons are learned
Abeeb is nothing but a pig.