3 people sentenced to life imprisonment over Huseynube’s abduction

Three people have been sentenced to life imprisonment over the abduction of Hussein Mohamed Manik (Huseynube) – found brutally murdered in H. A. Hoarafushi in 2010.

The sentences were served to:

1. Ahmed Ibrahim, Unmeedhee Manzil in H. A. Hoarafushi

2. Nooman Abdulla, Sosun Villa in H. A. Hoarafushi

3. Mohamed Latheef, Lhoheege in H. A. Hoarafushi

Mohamed Latheef is the nephew of Huseynube.

The sentences were served to the three people by Criminal Court this Monday.

They were found guilty of abducting Huseynube on September 27, 2010, taking him to an abandoned home and pouring sand into his mouth, suffocating him.

State witnesses testified Huseynube died from injuries sustained by him after the abduction.

The three men were exonerated of the charge they intended to murder Huseynube, but were found guilty of his abduction.

The three men denied the charges against them, but Criminal Court ruled that scientific evidence proved they abducted Huseynube. They were also found to have behaved strangely during the night of the abduction by locals.

All three men had denied the statements they gave to police during the trial, but the statements were found to be plausible considering the evidence and witness testimony provided by State prosecution.

They were found guilty of abduction and served life imprisonment under Article 6 (a) of Anti-Terrorism Act.

Article 6 (a) (ii) of Anti-Terrorism Act defines abduction as an act of terrorism. And Article 6 (b) of Anti-Terrorism Act prescribed a prison sentence of 20 to 25 years for the offense.

State prosecution had also charged the three men with robbery, alleging they stole more than MVR 100,000, more than USD 1,000, 20 Euros, 11 British Pounds and 10 Indian Rupees from Huseynube’s home on the night of his abduction.

State witnesses testified some of the money was found hidden in places connected to some of the suspects.