The Criminal Court has ruled to close the murder trial of Ibrahim Zihan, 27, over the kidnapping and killing of a 13-year-old in June, to the public.

While a hearing in the trial was scheduled for Thursday morning, this was announced prior to the start of hearing.

Two were charged with first-degree murder over the murder, Zihan and a 17-year-old whose identity has not been disclosed as he is a minor.

Both suspects have been remanded for the duration of their trials.

While Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem revealed that 13 charges have been pressed against the 27-year-old man, he will face a jail sentence totaling 100 years if found guilty.

PG Office has received enough evidence to prove the charges against the two, and 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 two days prior. 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 13-year-old’s body was sent to India to conduct an autopsy on July 5 and was brought back to be buried on July 12th.