The state has requested the Criminal Court to hold a closed trial in the murder case of Shiau Mohamed Saeed, who was brutally murdered in an apartment in Malé this August.
The state filed five charges against Ali Saahil on Wednesday in connection with the murder of Shiau; however, only three of these charges were publicly disclosed.
The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) confirmed that it had requested the Criminal Court to hold the entire trial behind closed doors. The Criminal Court has yet to make a decision on the matter.
This is the first instance in the Maldives where criminal charges against a person have been withheld from the public. PGO said they will not be disclosing further details to protect the victim's dignity and to prevent any further trauma her family may face when such details are publicised.
The remaining three charges include homicide, possession of pornographic images, and use of cannabis. The Criminal Court has ruled for Saahil to be detained until the trial is over. He was arrested from the scene of the crime.
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