Lawyer: Visam sentenced to death without sufficient evidence

Mohamed Visam was found guilty of the murder of Dharumavantha School student Mohamed Aruham and sentenced to death without sufficient evidence as required by Islamic Sharia, says his lawyer.

The lawyer made the argument during the first appeal hearing of the case, held this Sunday at High Court.

He said Visam was not found guilty of the murder based on legally sound evidence.

Aruham was attacked by a group of individuals and stabbed to death at Lorenzo Park – which lies to the East of Maldives Islamic University – in the late night hours of June 30, 2012.

The lawyer said the eyewitnesses to the crime – who testified on behalf of the State - did not present a valid reason for their presence at the crime scene and did not report the crime.

He said that Visam had pled “not guilty” to the charge, and the defense was not provided the opportunity to prove its case.

He also said that the witnesses in defense established Visam had no intention of murdering Visam, but that Criminal Court had not taken that into account when issuing its ruling.

Countering his arguments, the State prosecutor said though the lawyer argued the defense was not provided sufficient opportunity to prove its case, the fact that they were allowed witnesses proved they were provided that opportunity.

The prosecutor said all evidence in the case was obtained legally, and that witness testimony proved he attacked Arusham with a knife.

He noted that the medical report stated the reason for Arusham’s death as blood loss due to stabbings.

All other suspects in the case walked free due to lack of sufficient evidence.