Criminal Court on Tuesday convicted two suspects for the murder of Abdul Muheeth of G. Veyru while one suspect was acquitted.
The State had raised charges against three people for the murder of Abdul Muheeth, who was attacked with sharp objects in-front of Finance Ministry during February 2012.
While Mohamed Maimoon from Lh. Naifaru and Muhujath Ahmed Nasih from GDh. Gadhdhoo were found guilty by the Criminal Court, Ali Mushaffaau from S. Maradhoo was acquitted. Although the two suspects were found guilty, the Criminal Court did not sentence the perpetrators on Tuesday,
According to the current criminal procedural law, the court will pass judgement of guilty or not guilty and issue sentences in two different hearings. Opportunity to speak on the punishment will be given to both the prosecution and the defense, after which the judges will issue a sentence. A period of ten days will pass between the two hearings.
The case has dragged on for years during the court stage, with the case also having been at a standstill due to the judges overseeing the case changing over multiple occasions. The case first reached the final hearings back in 2015 after trial had been ongoing for three years.
The State also filed cases against three minors in the Juvenile Court in connection to Muheeth's death, after which two of the suspects were sentenced to death. While the High Court has maintained the Juvenile Court's judgement, the case is now at the Supreme Court.
