Ameen Faisal Denies Charges

Shadow Defence Minister Ameen Faisal and two other defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges in the mass trial of Maldivian Democratic Party activists arrested from the Namoona dhoni while trying to reach Malé for the MDP protest of 10 November last year. The Namoona owner, Shahuruzzamaan Wafir, and captain, Ahmed Didi, also entered not guilty pleas. In total forty five MDP activists will stand trial after their boat was stopped en route to Male' by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF). Among the accused are a girl of seventeen and two boys aged sixteen and seventeen.