PG Office: Guilty verdicts against two in Yameen Rasheed’s case a feat achieved

Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has stated that the guilty verdicts against two suspects in the murder of social media activist Yameen Rasheed, is a feat achieved in efforts to ensure that justice is served.

Yameen was stabbed to death in the stairwell of his residence in Male’ City, M. Spatula, on April 23, 2017.

Medical records presented during the trial showed he sustained 30 stab wounds.  

Criminal Court found Ismail Haisham Rasheed, H. Annaarumaage, Male’ City and Ahmed Zihan Ismail M.Iraasmikge, Male’ City guilty of the murder on Wednesday – sentencing them to life imprisonment with an order to pay MVR 1.3 million as Diya. 

In a statement released by PGO today, following the verdict, they said that both Haisham and Zihan played a key role in the murder of Yameen – having also physically taken part in it.

“This Office sees the guilty verdict against the two as a feat achieved in ensuring justice is served in this case,” the statement read.

'INTEND TO APPEAL NOT GUILTY VERDICTS OF FOUR OTHER SUSPECTS'

Although murder charges were pressed against four additional persons in connection to the case being; Mohamed Dhifran, Simbadge, G. Dh. Gadhdhoo; Hassan Shifaz, M. Kudhehige, Male’ City; Ismail Rasheed, M. Thaaif, Male’ City and Hussain Ziyad, M. Kolhufushi East, Male’ City – Criminal Court found them not guilty.

PGO, in its statement, stressed that the four individuals having taken part in planning and carrying out the murder of Yameen to certain extents is evident from the evidence and testimonies in the case.

“This Office has the intention to appeal the Criminal Court’s not guilty verdicts against these four individuals to the to the High Court of Maldives,” the statement read.

PGO said that they would decide on the matter of appealing the not guilty verdict against the four individuals within the statute of limitation– following analysis of the case report once it’s received.

PGO further stressed that cases involving such major crimes, directly linked to the highest standards of public interest, are taken very seriously by the Office – giving assurance that they would go to any length within the criminal justice system to ensure justice in such cases.