Individual gets 12 years for child kidnapping, murder

The Juvenile Court has sentenced a 17 year old to 12 years in prison for the kidnapping and murder of a 13 year old child in Hulhumale'.

In June 2021, a 13 year old was murdered and the body concealed inside a box, which was later discovered by authorities.

Prosecutors have charged a then 17 year old suspect with intentional homicide, kidnapping and offences against the body. Although the accused has since turned 18, the case continues to be treated as a juvenile matter because the alleged crimes were committed while the suspect was under the age of 18.

Under the law, the identity and personal details of the accused cannot be made public in juvenile cases, regardless of the individual’s current age.

The Prosecutor General's Office stated that the charges were proven against the child, with them being sentenced to 12 years in prison on Tuesday. Even though intentional homicide carries a 16 year sentence, the juvenile was sentenced to prison with 12 years and four months with the time spent in prison having been subtracted, as was stated by the Prosecutor General's Office.

The Prosecutor General's Office also stated that the sentence also included two months of consecutive fasting as forgiveness.

The Prosecutor General's Office went on to say that the Juvenile Court had charged the individual with a prison sentence of 11 months and 9 days for the crime of kidnapping, along with a prison sentence of 18 days for offenses against the body.

The Prosecutor General's Office said that as there is another who has been accused in the case, which is currently in the Criminal Court, the Juvenile Court's sentence stated that a decision needs to be made regarding the death penalty once the case is closed.

The victim was found in a box floating near Hulhumale' Phase 2 waters.