MALDIVES: HIGH COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON TWO MINORS OVER BOBBY’S MURDER

The High Court upheld a death sentence by the Juvenile Court on two minors convicted of the murder of Abdul ‘Bobby’ Muheeth. 
Bobby was stabbed to death at around 01:50 am on 19th February 2012 while he was sitting on a motorcycle in a narrow alley in front of the Finance Ministry. 
Earlier, the Juvenile Court sentenced to death two minors who were convicted of the murder. The sentence was later appealed at the High Court. 
During separate hearings held on November 29, all the members on the judges’ bench decided to uphold the sentence of the lower court. 
The members on the judges’ bench were Judge Abdul Raoof Ibrahim, Judge Abdulla Hameed and Judge Ali Sameer. 
The High Court ruling states that there was no reason to retake testimonies despite a request by the defendants.
It adds that one of the suspects had stabbed the victim while the second suspect had assisted in the stabbing, as per the testimonies of the witnesses.
Further, Judge Abdul Raoof repeated details of a phone call between one of the suspects and one of his friends where they talk of how the murder was committed.
In addition to the two minors, the state pressed charges against three individuals – whose trials are ongoing at the Criminal Court - in connection to the murder of Bobby.