High Court orders registration of appeal over acquittal of suspect in 72kg drug bust

The council of judges at the High Court on Monday instructed the registration of an appeal filed over the acquittal of the prime suspect tried over a shipment of 72 kilos of heroin intercepted back in 2020, after the petition was rejected citing failure to pay an MVR 300 registration fee.

The police had seized a shipment of 72 kilos of heroin that was smuggled into the Maldives on a fishing vessel ‘Masjaree 2’ in a counter-narcotics operation on December 8, 2020.

Out of the 10 arrested in the case, only three were tried; Irufan Thagiyyu from S. Hulhudhoo – who the police named as one of the ringleaders, and Ahmed Naseer of Dh. Maaenboodhoo, and Mohamed Akram of K. Male'.

However, all three were acquitted by the Criminal Court.

The Prosector General’s Office (PGO) appealed the decision with the High Court.

But in early October, the court’s registrar, Maryam Hoorshida accepted the appeal filed over the acquittal of Naseer and Akram, but rejected that filed over Irfan, citing failure to pay the MVR 300 court registration fee within the mandated timeframe.

The PGO filed for a review of the decision with the court’s council of judges, which, on Monday, decided in favor of the office.

However, the council took note of issues from both the PGO and the High Court.

The council found the PGO had been careless in the case, while the High Court failed to communicate with the PGO through the official channel.

The police had seized the 72 kilos of heroin from the trunk of a car in Male’. According to police, the drugs were smuggled into the Maldives on ‘Masjaree 2’, and then transferred to the speedboat ‘Princess Sameer’ and transported to Male’.

The PGO had filed charges against all 10 arrested in the case, but later withdrew charges against seven of the suspects, citing insufficient evidence to successfully try them.