Four individuals have been sentenced to life in prison on charges of drug trafficking by the Criminal Court, and the money they earned through the illegal trade has been seized by the State.
Four individuals have been sentenced to life in prison on charges of drug trafficking by the Criminal Court, and the money they earned through the illegal trade has been seized by the State.
The 25 year life sentence was passed on Hassan Looth, Rangal, Gaafu Dhaalu atoll Thinadhoo, Hassan Rasheed, Flat no. 01-G-45, Ismail Shareef, White Rose, Thaa atoll Thimarafushi, and Shaniya Ibrahim, Ma. Haslath.
The four were charged with trafficking diamorphine. Criminal Court Judge Ismail Shafeeu ruled to convict all four.
The four were arrested in a special drugs operation conducted by Police based on intelligence reports on January 12, 2021. The four were detained, and premises connected to them were searched, where large amounts of drugs had been found. The court ruled that all four bear responsibility for the drugs uncovered, and fined them as well.
From Looth's residence, Police found MVR 1,466,000 stored in two bags.
Shareef and Shaniya were arrested from a guesthouse, search of which led to the discovery of large amounts of drugs. Police also seized MVR 68,875 from Shareef's wallet and a bag at the location, as well as MVR 7000 that was handed over to Shareef by another individual when the operation had been ongoing.
Drugs and money were found in many of the premises searched under the operation.
The court ruled that the money is to be seized by the State.
Article 158 (a) of the Drugs Act states that, "Unless the contrary is proven, any property or money believed to have been obtained as a result of or in connection with an offence shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be proceeds of crime".
Looth has been fined by MVR 2 million and Rasheed by MVR 1 million. Shaniya and Shareef have been fined by MVR 500,000.
The ruling said that although the accused claim that the money was not obtained through crime, they have not attempted to prove to the court how the funds had been obtained. It said that there is the opportunity to submit evidence and prove how the money had been obtained.
Some of those accused in the case have said that they are drug users, and the drugs found had been for personal use.
The court ordered that the fines must be paid within a year.
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