Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has requested that he be allowed to give a statement on the May 6 terrorist attack.
The speaker submitted his request via a letter to the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO).
In a press statement, Nasheed's legal team said he wishes to give his statement before the conclusion of the preliminary hearings of the suspects.
Maldives Police Service (MPS) stated it has previously made several attempts to take Nasheed's statement in relation to the attack. Additionally, Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem said Nasheed's statement is crucial for the investigation and the trial.
On August 21, the Criminal Court of the Maldives began the trial for four suspects in the May 6 terrorist attack. The PGO has submitted cases against Adhuham Ahmed, Mujaaz Ahmed, Thahumeen Ahmed, and Ali Haisham with charges totalling 13 counts under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
At the first closed-door hearing, the court confirmed that the suspects have received the necessary trial documents and allowed Adhuham and Haisham 10 days to appoint legal representatives. The court also allowed more time for the representatives of Mujaaz and Thahumeen to review the numerous documents related to the trial. The court also reviewed the remand sentences of the suspects and ordered them to be remanded for the rest of the trial.
Meanwhile, Speaker Nasheed has appointed British Queen's Counsel (QC) Kirsty Brimelow to represent him and examine the work alongside the criminal investigation into the attack.
Nasheed was severely injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was triggered near his residence in Male' City, while he was getting into his car on the night of May 6.