Ruling in Arham murder case postponed as judge deliberates

Criminal Court has postponed the ruling in the murder of Mohamed Arham (Nooraaneege, H. A. Hoarafushi) as judge deliberate on a verdict.

Media official of Criminal Court, Ahmed Mohamed Manik informed “Sun” that the final hearing in the case – scheduled for 2 pm, Sunday – has been cancelled.

Manik said that the hearing was cancelled because the judge needed more time to deliberate on a verdict, given that it was a major murder case.

Arham was found murdered in Lorenzo Park, located to east of Islamic University, in May, 2012.

He was a student in Grade 9, Dharumavantha School, when he was murdered.

Four men stand accused of the murder – Mohamed Visam (Everbrue, L. Maavah), Mansoor Yoosuf (Asareege, L. Maavah), Mohamed Sufyaan (Gunzar, G. Dh. Gaddhoo) and Athif Rasheed (Ma. Scenery View, Male’).

All four defendants have denied the charge, though some of the state witnesses testified seeing some of them stab Arham with a knife.

The case was first presided over by Judge Muhuthaaz Fahmy, who was replaced by Judge Abdulla Didi after a complaint made by Athif’s family.

Judge Abdulla Didi was transferred to High Court, and the case is now presided over by Judge Ibrahim Ali.

All defendants, except for Athif, are being kept in police custody.