Anas’ murder suspect Saaz acquitted of threatening guard

Mohamed Saaz, one of men charged in the 2017 murder of Anas Abdul Sattar, has been acquitted of the charge of threatening a prison guard.

Saaz was accused of joining another man in confronting a prison guard, and threatening to kill him while armed with a knife.

The incident in question took place on October 9, 2016, and predates the murder of Anas.

According to the state, Saaz had blocked the path of the guard with his motorbike as he drove to work. The man in the passenger seat of the motorbike took out a knife and threatened to kill the guard.

The guard had run away in fear, leaving his motorbike behind.

The man who made the threat proceeded to drive away on the guard’s motorbike.

Saaz was charged with attempted assault using a sharp-edged weapon in the case.

The state had produced multiple witnesses in the case, including the guard. However, he refused to identify Saaz at court. He said he did not know Saaz, and did not see him at the scene of the crime.

A secret witness produced by the state gave similar testimony at court.

A third witness testified that he was aware of a prior death threat issued by the second suspect in the case against a prison guard.

Judge Saffath Habeeb acquitted Saaz due to lack of evidence.

Despite the acquittal, Saaz remains jailed for his involvement in the murder of Anas, a young man from R. Meedhoo who was chased into the Litus Service Center and killed by a group of eight men on July 31, 2017.

It later came to light it had been a case of mistaken identity, and that Anas had been wearing the same shirt as their intended target.

The Criminal Court is set to deliver its verdict in the case in mid-June.