Court allows State to appoint lawyers on behalf of Feydhoo couple

Criminal Court has allowed the State to appoint lawyers on behalf of the couple from Shaviyani Feydhoo charged with murdering the infant of their 15-year-old girl.

Criminal Court’s Media Official Ahmed Mohamed Manik said today that both the girl’s stepfather Abdul Gafoor Gasim, 44, of Blue Heaven, Shaviyani Feydhoo, and her mother Azeeza Ibrahim, 49, of Vaimathee Aage, Shaviyani Feydhoo, have stated that they intend to continue their trial after acquiring legal representation.

Ahmed Mohamed Manik said that today’s hearing was scheduled after both of the accused had submitted lawyers to the court, whom they had hired themselves. However, the couple told the court today that they intend to carry on with legal representation appointed by the State, as it is expensive to hire their own lawyers.

“Abdul Gafoor Gasim of Blue Heaven, Shaviyani Feydhoo, and Azeeza Ibrahim, of Vaimathee Aage, Shaviyani Feydhoo told the court today they want lawyers to be appointed by the State on their behalf. So the Judge has granted the opportunity to both of them. The next hearing will be scheduled after they appoint lawyers,” Manik said.

The State has pressed charges against them for the willfull murder of a child, stating that the 15-year-old girl gave birth on 25 June 2012, but the infant was never taken to see a doctor.

The necessary measures were not taken to ensure the baby’s health and that the girl’s pregnancy was instead kept a secret the State accusation states. The girl was not taken to the hospital when she was about the give birth, and thus delivered the baby in poor health. The baby was then buried in Vaimathee Aage house grounds.

The State has also charged the girl’s stepfather Abdul Gafoor Gasim with sexually abusing a minor while being in a position of trust, and her mother Azeeza Ibrahim with failure to inform the police of her child being sexually abused.

State has also brought charges against Abdul Gafoor Gasim for the possession of pornography after they discovered pornographic CD’s inside Abdul Gafoor’s house.

The couple have denied all charges set against them.