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Canadian man sentenced to in life imprisonment for drug possession in the Maldives

A Canadian national arrested for drug possession at a guesthouse in B. Maalhos has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Maldivian courts.

The incident occurred in July 2019 when police, acting on a tip-off, obtained a warrant and searched the man’s guesthouse room, where they discovered illegal drugs. Despite pleading not guilty, the man was convicted based on the evidence presented by the police.

Following his conviction, the man asked the court for a lighter sentence. However, the court imposed a fine of MVR 100,000 and sentenced him to 25 years in jail, which is considered life imprisonment under Maldivian law.

Although the man was sentenced to 25 years in prison, the five months he spent in custody were deducted from his sentence. Therefore, he will now serve 24 years, six months and 21 days.