HAVEERU NEWS ARTICLE 12 DECEMBER 2004
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/?page=details&id=22035

Quick Translation

TRIAL STARTS ON PERSON WHO STABBED AND INJURED TWO POLICEMEN IN THE UNREST AT REPUBLIC SQUARE

12 December 2004
Adam Haleem

Among the people who committed unrest in the Republic Square on 12 and 13 August this year, the trial of Hussein Yoosuf of M.Bright Flower of Male’ started today in the Criminal Court. He is charged by the State for taking part in an unlawful assembly and breaching public peace being armed with a weapon which when used as a weapon is likely to cause death and disobedience to order.

On behalf of the State the Attorney General is pressing these two charges against the accused under articles 46, 49, 50 and 88 of the Penal Code. In additional to this another trial in which the accused is charged with causing enmity and contempt amongst people towards the Government established by Law in the Maldives also started today.

The trial hearing held today began with enquiring what Hussein Yoosuf had to say in the case of him stabbing two policemen and injuring them on August 12 and 13 and clearing what the accused had to say regarding his investigation statement. On the Judge’s questioning Hussein Yoosuf said he went to the Republic Square in the morning of 13 August with a knife two or three inches long and that he admits that he stabbed two policemen among those standing in line formation. The accused said that he signed the statement without reading it and that the statement had things he did not say included in it along with things he admitted.

Upon the Judge questioning if Hussein Yoosuf was willing to pay compensation for the medical expenses incurred to treat the two policemen injured because he stabbed them the accused replied that he was willing to pay on certain conditions.

The accused said that he did not attack the policemen with knife in the Republic Square under anybody’s orders to participate in an unlawful assembly. And that nobody requested or gave him money to commit the act.

Regarding the charge that Hussein Yoosuf had caused enmity and contempt amongst people towards the Government established by Law in the Maldives he said that he did not participate in any unlawful assembly. However he did call for the resignation of some of the high officials and gave warnings to the police from the loud speaker in the incident of 12 and 13 August the accused said.

In addition the accused said he wanted to speak further on the three charges pressed against him in the trial.

In the trial that started today involving two lawsuits having three charges the State Attorney Abdul Raoof only presented one statement.

In adjourning the trail the Judge said another hearing of the trial will be held and that the date of the hearing will be announced.