Criminal Court sentences Mohamed Samah to death for the second time over the 2012 murder of Sergeant Adam Haleem

Mohamed Samah, convicted of killing Police Sergeant Adam Haleem in Kaashidhoo 14 years ago, has been sentenced to death by the Criminal Court for the second time.

Samah was first convicted of Haleem’s murder in 2013 and sentenced to death. The High Court upheld the verdict, but the Supreme Court later ordered a retrial, ruling that a conviction cannot rely solely on a confession unless the statements are proven beyond reasonable doubt. The court noted that this principle is consistent with how the Holy Prophet handled similar matters.

Although Samah admitted to stabbing Haleem, he maintained that he had no intention to kill him.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Husnu Al‑Suood, former Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, Justice Aishath Shujoon Mohamed, former Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir and Justice Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, ruled that the case must be reheard by the Criminal Court to determine whether evidence existed beyond Samah’s confession.

Following the retrial, Samah was reconvicted on the 29th of last month.

On Thursday, the Criminal Court issued its verdict, stating that the evidence proved beyond doubt that Samah attacked Haleem with the intention of killing him. The court also noted that Haleem’s heirs have requested qisas (retaliatory punishment).

As a result, the court ordered that Samah be executed in accordance with Islamic Sharia.