Ali Shifan murder case will be appealed: PG

Prosecutor General (PG) Ahmed Muizzu has said that the Criminal Court ruling whereby it acquitted the six people charged with the murder of Ali Shifan of M. Fairy Corner, will be appealed.

Muizzu told Sun Online today that the case will be appealed in High Court as soon as the trial report is received.

The State had pressed charges against Mohamed Mishan Abdul Haadhee of M. Silvernet, Mohamed Asif of Maafahi in Lhaviyani Kurendhoo, Mohamed Shaifan of Male’ Dhaftharu 2193, Ali Nabeeh of M. Nalahiya Manzil, Razzan Abdul Rahman of Kaanimaage in Baa Thulhaadhoo, and Abdullah Thilmeez of M. Dhinmana. The Criminal Court found all six people not guilty of the murder.

The court said in its ruling today that the State presented five witnesses, and that there were serious discrepancies between the statements provided by them during the investigation and in court.

The court further said that the DNA evidence against Shaifan can be viewed as strong evidence against Shaifan; however, as there were discrepancies in other evidence presented against him, DNA evidence alone is not sufficient to prove a murder case.

The court said that unlike other cases, collection of witness statements in murder cases must be conducted in light of the principles of Islamic Sharia.