Four acquitted in Kulhudhuffushi assault case from 12 years ago

The Kulhudhuffushi Magistrate Court has acquitted four men charged in connection with an assault that took place 12 years ago in HDh. Kulhudhuffushi.

The four men have been identified as Kulhudhuffushi residents – Ahmed Adam of Karankaage, Fahudh Mohamed of Aaniru, Fazeel Ali Waheed of Beachside, and Ali Mahir of Lhosmaage.  Ahmed Adam was charged with using force with a dangerous weapon as part of an unlawful assembly, while the other three were charged with disturbing public order through participation in an unlawful assembly.

The case relates to an incident on September 25, 2012, in which an individual identified as Hassan Mohamed was allegedly assaulted and struck on the head with a glass bottle. The state further alleged that while the victim was travelling by motorcycle with another individual to seek medical treatment, they were intercepted and attacked, during which Ahmed Adam allegedly drew a knife from his pocket and attempted to assault them.

In the judgment delivered by Magistrate Hawwa Ibrahim, the court noted that both victims and other prosecution witnesses testified that they were unable to recall details of the incident due to the significant passage of time. The witnesses also stated that they had not seen the defendants participating in the assault.

The court observed that although medico-legal reports confirmed that the victims had sustained injuries, the evidence presented did not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants were responsible for causing those injuries.

Citing the charges had not been proven to the standard of 'beyond a reasonable doubt' required under Article 51 (h) of the Constitution, the court ruled that all four individuals were not guilty.