Tag: Ali Shifan

Lawyer of Shifan murder suspect says witness statements contradictory

The lawyer of Abdulla Thimeez – charged with the murder of Ali Shifan – has argued in court that the witness statements given to the Criminal Court were inconsistent with on another.

According to local media present at the High Court today, Thilmeez’s lawyer Shaheem Ahmed said that two witnesses reported seeing Thlimeez near West Park restaurant, where Shifan was murdered, while the others have said they did not see Thilmeez at the murder scene.

Lawyer Shaheem said that, as the witnesses were inconsistent, some must have been lying, also noting that murder cases can be proven only if there is enough evidence to rule a person guilty without doubt.

Shifan was attacked around on April 1, 2012, outside the West Park restaurant on Boduthakurufaanu Magu – the outer ring road of Male’.

He was stabbed multiple times in the back and arms by a group of men on motorbikes as he stepped out of the restaurant to meet a friend, police reported.

In March, 2013, the Criminal Court ruled that all six suspects arrested in connection with the stabbing murder of Ali Shifan are innocent and ordered their release.

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

Although the state had produced five witnesses to the court, their statements to police were contradictory said the judge at the time.

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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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Criminal Court acquits six suspects in Shifan’s murder case, despite DNA evidence

The Criminal Court has ruled that all six suspects arrested in connection with the stabbing murder of Ali Shifan are innocent and ordered their release.

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

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 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”.

However, the judge cited a Supreme Court ruling stating that when dealing with murder cases, a suspect could only be convicted if there was enough evidence to believe he was guilty beyond any doubt, and said the state was not able to convince the court that they were guilty.

Shifan was attacked around 4:15pm on April 1, 2012, outside the Westpark restaurant on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, the outer ring road of Male’.

He was stabbed multiple times in the back and arms by a group of men on some motorbikes as he stepped out of a restaurant to meet a friend, police said.

Shifan had no previous records of any gang involvement, police said, adding that it was unclear as to why he was targeted by the gang.

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Six men charged with murder of Ali Shifan deny allegations in court

The six suspects in the murder case of Ali Shifan, who was stabbed to death by a group of men in April, were produced before the Criminal Court yesterday and all of them denied charges.

A group of men arrived on motorbikes and stabbed 33 year-old Ali Shifan,of Maafannu Fairy Corner, while he was waiting outside the West Park Restaurant.

Police arrested six suspects and their names were forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office for prosecution. 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.

Today at court the prosecution lawyer submitted the charges against the six suspects and the judge determined that they were serious criminal offenses under the constitution and inquired as to whether the respondents would like to have a lawyer with the assistance of the state, which the six refused.

According to local media reports, the suspects requested the judge grant them the opportunity to appoint lawyers, and the judge gave them a period of three days to do so.

Newspaper ‘Haveeru’ reported that the judge told the six men that they had to produce witnesses in their defense to the next hearing.

The judge also said witnesses from the prosecution will be produced to the court on the same day, reported Haveeru.

A friend of Shifan told Minivan News at the time that the victim was attacked while he was waiting in front of West Park Restaurant for a friend.

‘’He was having a coffee inside West Park Restaurant and went out because a friend was coming to see him,’’ he said. ‘’He was waiting with another friend and this group shows up with sharp weapons.’’

‘’It was a long bladed knife and he is a very slim man. He was stabbed from behind and it went straight through his back and came out the other side,” the source said, claiming that Shifan had been stabbed twice.

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Police arrest five in connection with murder of Ali Shifan

Police have yesterday arrested five people in connection with the murder of Ali Shifan ‘Tholhi Palay’, 33 of Fairy Corner house in Maafannu ward. Shifan was was stabbed to death last Sunday.

Police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef confirmed to Minivan News that the arrests were made and that they the suspects were now in police custody. Haneef said one of the suspects arrested was a minor.

He identified the arrested persons as Mohamed Asif, Ali Asif, Mohamed Shaifan and Ali Malash.

All five were summoned to court, which extended the detention period of Mohamed Asif to 15 days, while others were given five days.

It was too early to confirm whether Shifan’s death occurred as a result of a gang related fight, Haneef said, adding that the investigation into the case was ongoing.

The victim was taken to Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) minutes after the attack, however the hospital said he was dead on arrival.

Spokesperson of IGMH Zeenath Ali Habeeb told Minivan News that Shifan’s family had requested the hospital not share any information regarding the death with the media.

Haneef also declined to give details of the injuries to Shifan’s body because the family has requested the hospital not to share the information.

A friend of Shifan told Minivan News that Shifan was attacked while he was waiting in front of West Park Restaurant for a friend.

‘’He was having a coffee inside West Park Restaurant and went out because a friend of him was coming to see him,’’ he said. ‘’He was waiting with another friend and this group shows up with sharp weapons.’’

He said the first attack came from behind while he was standing outside the cafe.

‘’It was a long bladed knife and he is a very slim man. He was stabbed from behind and it went straight through his back and came out the other side,” the source said, claiming that Shifan had been stabbed twice.

The source alleged the attack was politically motivated and that gangs were being set against each other.

‘’Shifan was a very peace loving man and he always said he did not want war,’’ he said, claiming the assailants attacked Shifan because of his friends.

The attack had widowed Shifan’s wife of 15 years, the source said.

‘’The police have started investigating the case and they have met with some of the witnesses,’’ he added.

Shifan was attacked at about 4:15pm on April 1 on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, the outer ring road of Male’.

Police said according to witnesses, a group of men on a GN model motorbike came and attacked the victim.

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