High Court of Maldives has overturned a 15-year jail sentence, passed by the Criminal Court of Maldives, on former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb over the explosion on the presidential speedboat.
In its verdict, High Court overturned the initial ruling and asked the state to run a retrial on the case. The majority of the presiding judges agreed to place Adeeb in a remand prison for a period of 15 days for retrial and once 15 days are over, Prosecutor General's Office will be asked to make a decision on custody. However, the chair of the bench said Adeeb must be kept in custody until the end of trial.
In its verdict, High Court said the decision comes in reference to the Supreme Court order issued on February 1, last year. Although High Court ruled to hold Adeeb in a remand jail, Supreme Court in May 2 sentenced to place him in house arrest due to his health condition.
Former Vice President Adeeb was sentenced to 33 years in jail over several allegations of corruption and terrorism.
Last month, Prosecutor General's Office asked the Supreme Court to nullify the 10-year jail sentence on the former vice president for illegally carrying a firearm. The state appealed the superior court to make a fair and just ruling, as the evidence against Adeeb is not strong.
However, the Supreme Court is yet to make a decision on the case.