In the case of Abdulla Shuhad's murder 16 years ago at Gn. Fuvahmulah, the Supreme Court has concluded hearings today for the allegations toward the police that they assaulted Hassan Fareed and after the judges asked their questions.

In 2015, the Criminal Court sentenced Fareed, of Karankaage, to death after finding him guilty of assaulting and killing Shuhad, of Meko, during a confrontation in Fuvahmulah in January 2010. High Court later upheld the conviction, after which Fareed appealed the case to the Supreme Court.

During today's hearing to appeal the sentence on behalf of Fareed, the prosecution answered questions from the judges. The bench asked why the police signed the document that Fareed was informed of the rights he is privy to during the investigation.

The prosecution said the police signed the document as the police had stated that Fareed said he would not be able to sign the document due to the injuries he had sustained. The prosecution said that is the procedure in such situations at the time.

In addition to stating whether action was taken as such at the time, the bench questioned why there is no such regulation that has been documented. The prosecution answered they acted as such because there was no such regulation in the guideline at the time.

Fareed said while he was under police care, he was handed over to a police team from Addu City. After he was handed over, he said they blindfolded him and threw him into a speedboat docked at the Fuvahmulah harbor. He continued, saying after the police brought him to S. Hithadhoo Regional Hospital via the speedboat, the hospital said they were unable to treat him due to the extent of his injuries.

Fareed questioned whether sustaining injuries while under police custody should be a reason he should be denied the right to an attorney during the investigation.

He went on to say that he was later taken to Gan Police Station and that he was only treated afterward. He also said that while he was detained, he shared those details with the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) delegation during their visit.

Fareed highlighted attempts from the people of Fuvahmulah in obstructing the HRCM team coming ashore. According to Fareed, he believes this act was done by the public in connection to information given by the police to residents of the island.

"I believe that the police gave information to the public, stating the visit from HRCM personnel was meant to see the injuries I had sustained. So some people disrupted the speedboat HRCM was on and tried to prevent them from getting into the harbor," said Fareed while representing himself in court.

As per Fareed, police entered his house without a court order as well.

When the bench asked whether there was an investigation into Fareed's allegation that the police had assaulted him, the prosecution said they are as of yet unclear whether such an investigation took place.

However, the prosecution said even though the investigation had some "irregularities", the crime being proven against Fareed was based upon eyewitness statements. The prosecution said as there is nothing that would affect the reality of the case, the death sentence against him is proper.

The Supreme Court concluded the hearings for the case today. The bench announced that if there was nothing more that needed clearing up, the sentencing would be next.

The current bench is headed by Chief Justice Abdul Ghanee Mohamed and includes Justices Aisha Shujune Mohamed, Ali Rasheed Hussain, Hussain Shaheed and Mohamed Saleem.