Acquittal of Anas' murder suspects appealed at High Court

Prosecutor General's Office of Maldives has appealed the lower court's decision to acquit those charged in the stabbing and subsequent murder of Mohamed Anas at the High Court today.

Anas, originally from Raa atoll Meedhoo, was brutally stabbed to death in July 2017, by a group of eight people in the Litus Service Center in Malé where he fled to hide after being chased by the assailants.

The state charged Ahmed Zayan from Lhaviyani atoll Kurendhoo, Asurumaage, Abdul Razzaq from Mafannu Lonumidhilige and Usman Shareef from M aafannu Dhimushge of intentional homicide, while Junaih Abdulla from Laamu atoll Gan, Nannaarige, Simah Moosa, Male' Registry No. 1746, Hassan Mahfooz from Seenu atoll Feydhoo Vestonvilla and Mohamed Shaz from Thaa atoll Kinbidhoo were charged with participation in intentional homicide.

A minor, whose identity has been hidden by authorities, was also charged in relation to the murder. In 2023, the minor received an 18 years prison sentence.

The Prosecutor General's Office confirmed that the acquittal of the seven adults has now been appealed at the High Court.

The lower court's verdict to release the accused was issued seven years after the murder took place. Criminal Court ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecution was not sufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the seven individuals were involved in the crime.

At the time Judge Ali Nadeem declared that neither the CCTV footage nor the police intelligence reports provided enough evidence to prove their guilt. He also highlighted that the chain of custody in handling the footage was compromised.

Judge Nadeem also addressed the weakness of the eye-witness statements, and dismissed call records, investigation reports and intelligence reports entered into evidence, citing that that the documents could not be used to establish guilt in the case. He also noted that the call records were prepared by police, which further discredited the authenticity of the logs.