I have killed people before, but I did not murder Afrasheem: Humaam

Hussain Humaam Ahmed of H. Lobby has said in court that he has been involved in a number of stabbings and that he has even killed people in the past, but he did not commit the murder of Dr. Afrasheem Ali.

Humaam is currently on trial for the brutal murder of former Ungoofaaru MP Dr. Afrasheem Ali.

Speaking at his hearing at the Criminal Court today, Humaam said that he became active in assaults on the streets of Male’ during 2006.

Confessing some of the crimes he had committed, Humaam said that he had attacked a man on the road in Janavaree Magu in Male’, by hitting him on the head and injuring him badly, and that he had also stabbed and injured a man known as “Harbarey” while he was in Carnival area in Male’.

Humaam said that he once stabbed a foreign soldier in the stomach, a man who had come ashore to Male' from a ship. He had also stabbed a man in Dolphin Café inside the carnival area in Male’, he said.

He confessed to attacking a man who was walking along with a woman near Henveyru Irudhoshu café, including numerous muggings that he had committed in the past.

He said that he now wants to confess to his crimes, repent and ask forgiveness.

He said that he had committed murders in the past, but denied killing Dr. Afrasheem Ali. He said that there is no possibility that the authorities would have discovered traces of Afrasheem’s blood on Humaam's body.

“I did not kill Afrasheem. (Traces of Afrasheem’s) blood was not found on my body,” Humaam said.

Following Humaam’s denial, the judge had asked him if he had any information regarding the murder of Dr. Afrasheem Ali.

Humaam said that he has not received any information regarding the murder.

“I do not know (anything regarding the murder), Honourable Judge,” Humaam said.

Humaam had told the court today that he wishes to continue the case without the legal representation.

When granted the opportunity to present evidence against Humaam, the State prosecutor said that he would like to present the evidence in writing.

“The State wants to present the evidence in writing,” the State prosecutor said.

The Judge concluded today’s case by granting the State a 10 day period to submit the evidence.

Humaam is being charged for murdering Dr. Afrasheem Ali on the 1st of October 2012 between 11:30pm and 2:00am at Afrasheem’s residence H. Funvilu, by attacking him with a sharp object, assisted by a group of others.

The trial against Ali Shaan of H. Hicoast, the second person indicted for the murder of Dr. Afrasheem Ali, is also ongoing. The Court allowed the State to present evidence against Shaan during yesterday’s hearing.

Police have earlier revealed that Dr. Afrasheem’s murder was pre-planned and that politicians were being the attack. They have also said that MVR 4 million was offered to different gangs in Male’ for the murder. Police arrested Abdulla Jaavid, son-in-law of Chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Hulhu-Henveyru MP Reeko Moosa Manik, and a military officer in connection the murder. Police however did not reveal the specific details of their allegation against the two men.

Hussain Humaam Ahmed, one of the prime suspects indicted for the murder of Dr. Afrasheem Ali, who has confessed to being involved in multiple stabbing and murder incidents, he has never before received a conviction in court.