Inthif Rauf denies charges, judge refuses to transfer him to police custody

Criminal Court has said that Mohamed Inthif Rauf from H. Hilton cannot be transferred to police custody despite repeated requests by State.

Inthif Rauf – younger brother of Azlif Rauf who was a suspect in the brutal murder of politician and religious scholar Dr. Afrasheem – was arrested for possession of illegal weapons during a police raid on Ma. Goldenbeam.

State prosecutor, during the Criminal Court hearing held on Thursday repeatedly requested with Judge Saeed Ibrahim to transfer Inthif Rauf to police custody.

State prosecutors also presented documents pertaining to the case.

Judge Saeed Ibrahim, however, refused, and said that Inthif Rauf was transferred to police custody on Wednesday after giving State sufficient time to build their case against him. And that State had the right to appeal his decision.

State prosecutor said that High Court had issued an order that issues pertaining to keeping suspect under custody until end of trial cannot be appealed. And that the decision of High Court gave the authority to the judge ruling in the case to revise such decisions, and asked that the judge therefore revise the decision to transfer Inthif Rauf to house arrest.

Judge Saeed Ibrahim said that State had five days to produce additional documents supporting their request, and that a hearing would be scheduled if the decision to transfer

Inthif Rauf to house arrest needed to be revised.

State prosecutor said that they had not known the decision to transfer Inthif Rauf to house arrest had been made by judge presiding over the case.

Inthif Rauf’s father Mohamed Abdul Rauf spoke to “Sun” on Thursday and said that police had said during the remand hearing on Wednesday that bullets could not be inserted into the gun found with Inthif Rauf, and that the gun instead used beads.

He said that police told Inthif Rauf was cooperating with them, and that the decision to transfer him to arrest had been made based on all those factors.

State argued that the gun could, regardless, hurt people if he chose to shoot with it. Providing a report by Maldives National Defense Force's Ordinance to support their argument.

Inthif Rauf denied the charges against him.