Afiya confesses to abusing two-year-old son

Afiya Mohamed Manik has confessed in court to abusing her two-year-old son Ibthihaal Mohamed.

Afiya has been charged by the State with murder and disobedience, after Ibthihaal was found dead in their house in Vaavu Rakeedhoo on 28 January 2015 with signs of abuse.

Presenting the charges in court, the State Prosecutor said that Afiya had abused Ibthihaal on several occasions over a long period of time, and Ibthihaal is believed to have died at around noon on 28 January 2015 as a result of physical abuse inflicted on him by Afiya earlier that day.

- Ibthihaal Mohamed is believed to have died as a result of physical abuse -

Afiya was charged with disobedience with reference to Articles 16 and 18 of the Law on Protecting the Rights of Children, and Article 88 of the Penal Code.

Afiya, who appeared in court in handcuffs today, confessed - adding that her confession had not been coerced in anyway - to having physically abused Ibthihaal.

Afiya recalled that she physically abused Ibthihaal every time she got angry, “because he had no father”.

The judge asked several questions related to the abuse, to which she repeatedly responded with the phrase “I abused him.”

Following her guilty plea to the disobedience charge, the only evidence presented by the State to support this charge was Afiya’s statement to the police.

In relation to the murder charge, when asked by the State if she would like to appoint a lawyer, Afiya said that she could not afford a lawyer.

Judge Muhthaz Fahmy asked Afiya to submit the form to request assistance from the State to appoint a lawyer.

In addition to the charges against Afiya, the State has also charged Afiya’s stepfather with sexual abuse of Ibthihaal.