Today

The Criminal Court has cancelled the hearing scheduled for today of the case against Hussain Humaam Ahmed of H. Lobby regarding the murder of Dr Afrasheem Ali.

Speaking at a press conference, Media Official of the Criminal Court Ahmed Mohamed Manik said that even though the hearing was scheduled for today, due to an administrative error, it was not included in the schedule posted on the noticeboard to inform the media and the public.

“The cases are scheduled in advance; you can see them on our website one day in advance. What happened today was, the hearing for Hussain Humaam Ahmed of H. Lobby regarding the murder of Dr Afrasheem Ali had been scheduled, but it was not included on the list on the website and our noticeboard,” he said.

He said that the hearing was cancelled once the judge presiding over the case came to know that the media and the public had not been informed.

Ahmed Mohamed said that the case has been scheduled for 14:00 on Saturday.

“The judge came to know that the public had not been informed that the hearing had been scheduled for today, and that it was not included in the schedule on the website. People are paying a great deal of attention to this case, and it’s being covered by the media also, so the judge decided to hold the hearing in a manner that everyone can be informed. So he has scheduled the case for 14:00 on Saturday.”

He said that hearings of all cases except those related to sexual misconduct and child abuse would be open to the media and members of the public.

At the last session of the trial on the murder of Dr Afrasheem, Humaam confessed that he killed Dr Afrasheem by hitting him on the head with a machete.

Humaam said that he was first told by Corporal Azlif Raoof that MP Afrasheem needs to be ‘removed’.

Humaam said that he was also told by Azlif back then, to keep the task a secret.

Humaam said that after this, Hulhu-Henveyru MP Reeko Moosa Manik’s son-in-law Abdullah Javid (Jaa), Javid’s brother Janaa, and Azlif met with him in Jalapeno restaurant and discussed ways to carry out the murder.

Humaam said that during these discussions, he was told by Azlif that MVR 1 million had been received in advance, and that issues related to the murder were ‘very ready’.

Humaam said that he was told by Javid and group, that one reason why Dr Afrasheem had to be ‘removed’ was the remarks made by Dr Afrasheem on TV on the day the government changed.

Humaam said that he was joined in carrying out the murder by Ali Shaan (Sato) of H. Hicoast, and ‘Nangi’.

Humaam said that Ali Shaan was waiting inside the building before Dr Afrasheem arrived at home that night. He said that Ali Shaan had been waiting for about three minutes when Dr Afrasheem entered the building, following which he swung a machete, which left Dr Afrasheem in shock. This was followed by Humaam hitting Dr Afrasheem in the head with the machete twice, and Ali Shaan stabbing Dr Afrasheem with a knife. Dr Afrasheem then fell on the floor.

Humaam said that he got Dr Afrasheem’s blood on himself, which he washed off at Shaheed Ali Mosque near Ameer Ahmed School as per Ali Shaan’s advice.

Humaam said that he drank four bottles of alcohol mixed with Red Bull in Dolphin Café, 24 hours before the murder.

Humaam said that they were not sure if Dr Afrasheem had died when they left him lying on the floor. He said that he went to Pet Park near H. Adipark with Ali Shaan and changed his clothes, also as advised by Ali Shaan.

Humaam said that Azlif told him over the phone the route taken by Dr Afrasheem in his car after he attended a TV program on the night of the murder. Humaam said that Azlif had told him one day prior to the night of the murder, how to go to Dr Afrasheem’s residence H. Funvilu.

Humaam said that the route taken by him and Ali Shaan to Dr Afrasheem’s residence to kill him, was Buruzu Magu near Family Court, and then a narrow lane on to Ameenee Magu.

He said that he, together with Ali Shaan, checked the area on Buruzu Magu and Ameenee Magu leading up to Dr Afrasheem’s residence before carrying out the murder.