PG to appeal Shifan murder case after Home Minister and Police Commissioner express concern over ruling

Prosecutor General Ahmed Muiz has said he will appeal a Criminal Court ruling that all suspects charged in connection with the murder of Ali Shifan were innocent.

The PG’s decision came after Home Minister Dr Mohamed Jameel and Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz expressed concern about the Criminal Court’s ruling.

In an interview given to Haveeru Dr Jameel said he believed that the state had produced enough evidence to the court and that the judge made mistakes in measuring the evidence.

He also said that the Home Ministry was very concerned that suspects involved in such crimes were being released by the courts.

In a video recording published on police website, Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz said he was shocked to hear about the court ruling.

‘’The investigation into the case was conducted under the instructions from the prosecutor general,’’ Riyaz said. ‘’Police obtained DNA evidence and statements from witnesses. DNA evidence is accepted widely throughout the world.’’

On March 20, the Criminal Court ruled that all six suspects arrested in connection with the stabbing murder of Ali Shifan were innocent and ordered their release.

The six suspects were identified by the police as Ali Nabeeh, 22, of M.Nalahiyaa Manzil, Mohamed Shaifan, 18, of Male’ Dhaftharu no 3912,  Razzan Abdu Rahman, 19, of Kaanimaage house in Thulhaadhoo island of Baa Atoll,  Abdul Thilmeez, 20, of M.Thilmeez,  Mohamed Asif, 19, of Maafahi house inKurendhoo island of Lhaviyani Atoll and Mohamed Mishaan Abdul Haadhy, 20, of M.Silver Nest.

The judge ruled that there was not enough evidence to convict, despite the DNA of the victim being found under the fingernail of one of the suspects.

The judge said that although the state had produced five witnesses to the court, their statements to police were contradictory.

The court also acknowledged that Ali Shifan’s DNA was found under Shaifan’s fingernail, and accepted that this was “strong forensic evidence”, but said it was not enough to prove him guilty.

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