State appeals Inthif being released to house arrest

State prosecutors have appealed Mohamed Inthif Rauf from H. Hilton – who was arrested with a weapon from Ma. Goldenbeam – being released to house arrest.

An official from Prosecutor General’s Office who spoke to “Sun” on Sunday said that State prosecutors filed the appeal on January 17th, after the decision to release Inthif to house arrest was made by judge presiding over the case on January 15.

Inthif has been charged with possessing a dangerous weapon without any valid reason.

Inthif Rauf – younger brother of Azlif Rauf who was a suspect in the brutal murder of politician and religious scholar Dr. Afrasheem – was arrested for possession of a gun during a police raid on Ma. Goldenbeam.

State prosecutor, during the Criminal Court hearing held on January 14, repeatedly requested with Judge Saeed Ibrahim to transfer Inthif Rauf to police custody.

State prosecutors also presented documents pertaining to the case.

Judge Saeed Ibrahim, however, refused, and said that Inthif Rauf was transferred house arrest after giving State sufficient time to build their case against him. And that State had the right to appeal his decision.

State prosecutor said that High Court had issued an order that issues pertaining to keeping suspect under custody until end of trial cannot be appealed. And that the decision of High Court gave the authority to the judge ruling in the case to revise such decisions, and asked that the judge therefore revise the decision to transfer Inthif Rauf to house arrest.

Judge Saeed Ibrahim said that State had five days to produce additional documents supporting their request, and that a hearing would be scheduled if the decision to transfer Inthif Rauf to house arrest needed to be revised.

Inthif Rauf’s father Mohamed Abdul Rauf spoke to “Sun” and said that police had said during the remand hearing that bullets could not be inserted into the gun found with Inthif Rauf, and that the gun instead used beads.

He said that police told Inthif Rauf was cooperating with them, and that the decision to transfer him to arrest had been made based on all those factors.

State argued that the gun could, regardless, hurt people if he chose to shoot with it. Providing a report by Maldives National Defense Force's Ordinance to support their argument.

Inthif Rauf denied the charges against him.