Final chance to submit concluding statement, court warns Afrasheem murder suspect

Criminal Court has allowed Hussain Humaam of H. Lobby, charged with the murder famous religious scholar Dr Afrasheem Ali, the final opportunity to present his concluding statement to the court.

The Judge revealed during the hearing today that the court was forced to cancel two previous hearings because Humaam’s lawyer, Abdulla Haseen was unwell and that the court has received another medical certificate from the lawyer, requesting excuse for today's hearing. But said the certificate was expired, the Judge said.

The Judge said he will schedule another hearing to hear Humaam’s concluding statement and said that the hearing will be the last such opportunity that the court will allow.

Humaam had previously confessed to the murder of Dr Afrasheem Ali, but had recalled his confession after saying that he was forced by the police.

Also a parliamentarian, Dr Afrasheem Ali was murdered in the stairwell of his home H. Funvilu between 11:30 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. on the morning of 1 October 2012.

State has also charged Ali Shaan of H. Hicoast for the murder.

Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz earlier said that the murder was politically motivated and had a reward money of MVR 4 million.

Police have forwarded for prosecution cases of four individuals; brothers Abdulla Javaad and Shaheen Mohamed, Azlif Raoof, and Adam Salah, suspected planning the murder.