The Criminal Court on Thursday sentenced Ali Hamza to jail for the murder of Bangladeshi national Baandh Shahumiya.
On the night of June 9, 2015, Ali Hamza attacked Shahumiya while he was sleeping on the patio of Randhaanuge, L. Gan. Hamza used a three-foot wooden rod to hit Shahumiya on the face, and he died from injuries sustained in the blow. While Hamza first confessed to killing Shahumiya during the investigation, he later changed his plea not guilty during the court process.
The Criminal Court said although Hamza was guilty of murdering Shahumiya, he could not be convicted on first-degree murder charges as did not state there was any malice between himself and the deceased in his initial confession. The judge said the act was an act of 'Shibhul-amdh', or second-degree murder, and sentenced him to 10 years in jail.
While the court recorded the statements of the victim's heirs in Thursday's sentencing hearing, all heirs agreed that they wished to collect 'Diya' or blood money for the death of their relative. Diya is the alternative punishment to 'Qisas' or equal retaliation. Therefore, the judge ordered Hamza to pay Shahumiya's family MVR 1.3 million over three years.
During the hearing, while the heirs' statements were being recorded, Hamza spoke out and used vulgar language, due to which the judge found him in contempt of court. He received 15 days in jail for the offense.
After deducting the time he has spent in detention until now, Hamza will have to serve four years, nine months, and 25 days in jail.
