Male’, Maldives – The Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office has decided not to appeal GDh. Gadhdhoo court’s decision to toss out a case regarding 5 individuals arrested with 149Kg of drugs in 2019.
A PG office official has stated that while the case will not be appealed at High Court, other steps that need to be taken regarding the case will proceed.
After GDh. Gadhdhoo court tossed out a 149Kg drug case stating that the case was not sent to the court during the stipulated period to be tried, the issue has also been Maldivian Parliament to investigate the court’s decision.
Hearings on the case were held earlier at the Criminal Court, but was ceased after a procedural point was raised during the preliminary stage. It was decided that the case should be submitted to a court in the area where the crime was committed, and the issue was subsequently tossed out of court.
The state had pressed charges on five individuals after the police seized over 149Kg of drugs buried in an uninhabited island called Hulhuvaarulu in GDh. Atoll in 2019. Four were charged with trafficking diamorphine, while one was charged as an accomplice to trafficking diamorphine. These individuals are;
- Ahmed Aneel, 34, Gahaakoalhi, G. A. Kondey
- Ahmed Haameem, 42, Edhuruge, G. Dh. Gadhdhoo
- Shafeez Mohamed, 35, Romance, G. A. Kondey
- Yamih Hameed, 23, Edhuruge, G. Dh. Gadhdhoo
- Ali Shakir, 30, Dhikhshan Villa, G. A. Nilandhoo
The drugs found in Hulhuvaarulu include opiates and cannabis. The opiates weighed 96.36 kilos and the cannabis weighed 47.27 without the packing. The street value of the drugs is estimated to be above MVR 260 million.
