High Court has ruled that the Criminal Court's conviction of a man accused of smuggling gold into Maldives was wrongful on the same day that the accused completed serving his prison sentence. 

Sri Lankan national Mohamed Sulaimhan was convicted of smuggling 2kg gold concealed in his body. On October 28, 2025, the Criminal Court sentenced him to one year in prison. 

He finished serving his sentence yesterday. He had appealed his conviction at the High Court. It has been learned that Maldives Immigration attempted to deport Sulaimhan while the appeal case was submitted to the High Court. 

The High Court, in its ruling on the appeal case yesterday, found that the State had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Sulaimhan knowingly acted in violation of Article 97 of the Maldives Customs Act. The court held that the prosecution did not establish that he was aware the goods required prior authorization or were subject to customs duties, nor that he intended to evade the payment of those duties. 

Based on these findings, the High Court ruled that Sulaimhan's conviction was not in accordance with the Constitution and therefore could not stand. 

While the High Court overturned Sulaimhan's conviction, he was taken to the High Court hearing yesterday after the Correctional Service completed all procedures of releasing him from custody following his completion of his sentence. 

It has been reported that Sulaimhan was deeply affected by the High Court ruling, with eye witnesses saying he had broken down in tears upon having his conviction overturned.