Plea deal in 2kg drug case: sentence slashed from 50 to 25 years

The state has entered into a plea deal with an individual who was caught in a Malé home with 2.7kg of drugs, cutting down what would have been a 50 year prison sentence to 25.

The individual has been identified as a Malé man named Mohamed Hassan, who was captured in a police operation last May. Officers who searched his room at the time found 1.7kg of cannabis and over a kilogram of diamorphine. Over MVR 9,000 was also discovered from the premises.

In the case, Hassan was charged with cannabis and diamorphine trafficking.

With each charge carrying a 25 year prison sentence and a MVR 100,000 fine, both charges summed up his total prison sentence to 50 years with MVR 200,000 payable as a fine.

However, he entered a plea deal with prosecutors who agreed to cut down each of his prison sentences to 12 years and six months. They also reduced his fine to MVR 50,000.

Following his confession in court as per the plea deal, the Criminal Court on Thursday found him guilty and sentenced him to a total of 25 years in prison with a MVR 100,000 fine for both charges. The state also let the MVR 9,000 found from his premises go.