Two charged with first-degree murder in death of 13-year-old
Police discovered the teenager's body in the early hours of June 22, he was reported missing on the 20th
(File photo) Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem
Two suspects have been charged with first-degree murder of a 13-year-old in June.
Prosecutor General (PG) Hussain Shameem revealed this during a press conference held on Thursday afternoon, where he stressed that seven counts of charges have been raised against the accused.
One of the suspects has been revealed as Ibrahim Zihan, 27, while the other's identity has not been disclosed as he is a minor of 17 years. Both suspects have been remanded for the duration of trial.
PG Shameem said that if the 13 charges against Zihan are proved, he will face a jail sentence totaling 100 years.
Further noting that the PG Office has received enough evidence to prove the charges against the two, Shameem said that details from the postmortem report is also being used during prosecution.
The older suspect had a home arrest order against him at the time of the 13-year-old's kidnapping and murder, over fear of an attack on another person. Further, he has a criminal history as per official records.
Police discovered the teenager's body in the early hours of June 22, he was reported missing on the 20th. The body was stuffed inside a suitcase and thrown into the sea around the Hulhumalé second phase area which is prohibited to the general public.
The arrest of two suspects was revealed the same day as the discovery of the body. They were found and arrested in hiding at a guesthouse in the capital after committing the crime, and were reportedly present at the scene when the officers pulled the suitcase with the body out of sea.
The teen's body was sent to India for autopsy, two weeks after the murder.
