Court acquits man sentenced to 15 years upon PG’s request

High Court has acquitted a man sentenced to 15 years in prison after he was found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute.

The man was acquitted at the request of Prosecutor General’s Office, which said the institute had not followed the standard procedure in handling the case. The PG’s Office still has the right to refile charges against the man, if required.

Abdul Fattah Hussain from Zamaanykula in R. Rasmaadhoo was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Criminal Court after he was found guilty of trafficking in diamorphine in March, 2014.

Speaking at High Court last Thursday, the PG’s Office said the standard procedure followed by the office in such cases was to withdraw charges when the suspect takes ownership of the narcotics found and confesses to abusing narcotics, after which the case is sent to the Drug Court.

Fattah has confessed to drug abuse during the Criminal Court trial.

The High Court ruled that the Fattah should therefore be treated as per standard procedure by the PG’s Office, and acquitted him.

Fattah was also fined MVR 25,000 after narcotics was found near him inside a speedboat docked at the Male’ City lagoon in 2013.