Malé, Maldives – The High Court of Maldives tweeted yesterday that they will be livestreaming the sentencing hearing for the murder of Ahsan Basheer at 14:15 today.
Ahsan’s heirs have asked for the death penalty for the defendants who are found guilty for the murder.
The sentencing can be viewed live through the Maldives High Court YouTube channel.
Ahsan Basheer, Varudheege, S. Hithadhoo was murdered 10 years ago, on 17 March 2011 at 03:20. The stabbing took place at the Majeedhee Magu-Alikilegefaanu Magu junction.Two suspects were arrested over Ahsan’s murder in March 2011; Ibrahim Shahum Adam, G. Cozy and Hassan Shimaz Mohamed, Ma. Venus. The prosecution charged Shahum with first-degree murder while Shimaz was charged with being an accessory to the crime.
Ahsan’s murder took place a month after suspect Shahum was released from remand detention for the murder of Mohamed Hussain, 17, M. Beauty Flower in 2010. Shahum was later found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2013, 2 years after Ahsan’s killing.
Prosecution appealed to admit Ahsan’s dying declaration at the High Court in February 2016 after the Criminal Court threw out Ahsan’s case in November 2014 citing lack of substantive evidence.
The High Court will sentence the defendants today after taking into account the wishes of the victim’s heirs. Ahsan’s heirs are seeking the death penalty under the doctrine of qisas permissible under the Maldives legal system.
The last execution in the Maldives was in 1954. There are currently 15 individuals sentenced with a death sentence in the country.
