PG Office appeals Shameem attack case at High Court

Prosecutor General's Office has appealed at High Court the Criminal Court's ruling to acquit all accused in the attack on former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem.

Shameem was attacked in February last year with a hammer outside his residence after he was followed by the assailants.

On April 14, Criminal Court acquitted all seven persons charged with the use of a dangerous weapon and attempted murder. The deadline for appealing this ruling was yesterday.

The PG Office said today that the appeal case was submitted to the High Court yesterday. The office previously said that a decision to appeal the ruling had been reached last Thursday.

The PG Office has appealed to the High Court to overturn the Criminal Court's verdict and order a retrial.

The attack on Shameem was caught on CCTV as well.

In the case, the State charged seven individuals:

1. Midhhath Adam, Riveli, R. Alifushi

2. Mohamed Jazlan, Javaahiru Villa, Thun'di, L. Gan

3. Zayan Naseer, Kemihiya, ADh. Maamigili

4. Abaan Abdul Hannan, Ruva, Th. Dhiyamigili

5. Rajuvan Latheef, Murin'gu, L. Maamendhoo

6. Ahmed Maisan Hashim, Male' Register no. 2247

7. Shamaal Hussain, Musthareege, Th. Gaadhiffushi

The main reason for this cited by the court is inconsistencies in the time stamps on the CCTV footage taken from various sources and the time the attack is said to have occurred. It has been reported that the inconsistencies were owed to time settings made in CCTVs at various locations.

The ruling said as the time stamp on the footage is different, it must be considered that their is a break in sequence of the footage. Judge Ibrahim Ihusan said that the State must have explained to the court why there is a difference in the time stamps on the various footage submitted and the time the attack occurred.

No questions regarding the time stamps were asked during the trial, but the Judge said in the ruling that the discrepancy created doubt in the credibility of the main evidence submitted. The ruling further said that these inconsistencies raise doubt whether the crime had been committed by those accused.