Najeeb

Ahmed Murrrath, 29, of M. Masroora, and Fathimath Hana, 18, of Rihaab, Sh. Goidhoo, who have confessed to the murder of lawyer Ahmed Najeeb, are lovers. Since their arrest, they had not seen each other until the trial session to present the word of Najeeb’s heirs.

As he walked into the court room, Murrath intently stared at Hana’s face. He seemed to want to say something to Hana, but Hana did not lift her gaze from the ground.

Murrath had said in court earlier that the garbage can used to dispose of Najeeb’s body was bought with the money obtained from Najeeb’s cash card, while Najeeb was still alive.

After asking Najeeb’s heirs what they want done with the murderers, the Judge posed several questions to Murrath and Hana individually.

He first questioned Murrath.

Judge: How did you dispose of Najeeb’s body?

Murrath was looking down, and fiddling with the fingers of his cuffed hand.

Murrath: I put it in a garbage can.

Judge: What did you do next?

Murrath: I put it in the garbage can. And pushed it in. [Murrath gestured to show how he pushed the body in.] Then I also put a brick in the can.

Judge: What was the brick for?

Murrath: For no reason.

Judge: Did you put anything else in the can? Like sandbags for example?

Murrath: No, I didn’t. I just put a brick.

Judge: Did you use Najeeb’s money?

Murrath: Yes. To buy the garbage can, drugs and cigarette.

The Judge did not ask any further questions on the drugs; rather, he wanted to know about the money.

Judge: How did you take the money, from his wallet?

Murrath: Yes, both from the wallet and cash card. I took Rf2000 twice using the cash card.

Judge: How much money did you take from the wallet?

Murrath: I don’t know. I handed over the remaining money to the Police when I was arrested. I don’t know how much it was.

Judge: So if you took Rf2000 twice, you took a total of Rf4000, correct?

Murrath nodded.

Judge: Where did you take the money from? An ATM?

Murrath: Yes. I first went to the ATM near IGMH and took Rf2000. Then I went to the one near Customs, and also took out Rf2000.

Judge: What was the time then? Was it the night of 30 June? Before or after midnight?

Murrath: I don’t recall so much.

Judge: Was Najeeb still alive at the time?

Murrath: Yes. I had not killed him yet. I used the money while he was still alive.

Not a sign of anxiety was seen on Murrath’s face.

Next, the Judge posed several questions on Hana.

Judge: Were you there when he got the cash card?

Hana: Yes.

Judge: What was put in the garbage can?

Hana: A brick.

Judge: Was anything else put in the garbage can?

Hana: No.

Judge: Who put the brick in?

Hana: Not me, it was Murrath.

Judge: Who took the cash card?

Hana: Murrath.

Judge: Who took the money from the wallet?

Hana once again said her lover’s name. Her one-word replies sounded like they came from a child. She did not seem nervous.

Judge: Who threatened Najeeb to reveal the cash card pin number?

Hana: Murrath.

Judge: Who used the money taken from the ATM?

Hana: Murrath.

Judge: How much money was it?

Hana: Rf2000 was taken out twice. I went with him, once to the one near IGMH, and then to the one on Boduthakurufaanu magu bazaar branch.

Judge: What was bought with the money?

Hana: A garbage can, as far as I know. The garbage can cost about Rf1000.

Judge: Was anything else bought?

Hana: No, not that I know of. I only know about the garbage can.

The Judge did not question Hana on her confession that she was intoxicated at the time of Najeeb’s murder.

He then asked the State Prosecutor if he had any questions.

The State Prosecutor requested for an extension of Hana and Murrath’s detention period until a verdict is issued on the case.

Following the request, the Judge annulled the earlier detention period of 15 days and ordered the Police to hold them in custody until the trial sessions were completed.

As they left the court room, Hana looked over her shoulder and stared intently at Murrath. It looked as though she wanted to ask him something. Murrath, however, did not lift his gaze from the ground.