High Court concludes four-year appeal in death sentences over the 2012 murder of Bobby

The appeal hearings in the death sentences of two men convicted in the murder of Abdul Muheeth (Bobby) 14 years ago have concluded on Wednesday, after four years of proceedings.

Bobby was killed while sitting on a motorcycle in an alley in front of the Finance Ministry in Male’ city when a group attacked him, stabbing him fatally with a knife during the attack.

The incident took place on February 19, 2012. Police investigation and trial findings showed that Bobby had been mistaken for someone else by his attackers.

Three minors under the age of 18 were charged in the Juvenile Court. Two of them were sentenced to death in 2013, while the third was released due to lack of evidence.

In 2016, the High Court upheld the death sentence of one of the minors.

The adults involved in the murder were charged in the Criminal Court.

They are Muhjath Ahmed Naseeh (GDh. Gadhdhoo), Mohamed Maimoon (Lh. Naifaru) and Ali Mushfau (S. Maradhoo).

Muhjath and Maimoon were convicted of intentional homicide and sentenced to death in 2019. The court ruled that Ali Mushfau was not guilty.

Bobby’s heirs requested Qisas, seeking life‑for‑a‑life retributive justice during trial.

The appeal cases against the death sentences issued by the Criminal Court have been pending in the High Court since 2022.

The date of the verdict remains unknown. After the High Court ruling, the case will proceed to the Supreme Court stage.