State prosecutors have requested for the death penalty to be slapped on Sha Alom Mia, charged in connection to the murder of Dhangethi entrepreneur Mahmood Aboobakuru.

Arrested in the case was Sha Alom Mia, a 29-year-old Bangladeshi native who asserted that no others were involved in the homicide in his confession statement. Police confirmed the expatriate’s arrest on October 16. Police revealed that the suspect has a history of criminal offenses including theft, which the police stationed in Dhangethi island is probing.

The Criminal Court had earlier ordered his remand pending the outcome of his trial after Alom confessed to murdering Mahmood for money. Police officers had earlier confiscated 20 notes of MVR 500, which indicates that the murder was planned beforehand.

Alom requested a plea deal in connection to the case earlier, for a lighter sentence. However, during the preliminary hearing held on Wednesday, the state prosecutors asserted that the victim’s family wishes for Alom to be sentenced to death.

The Bangladeshi national is charged with deliberate murder and abuse of a human corpse. The Prosecutor General’s Office forwarded the charges on 15 December 2021.

Presiding over the case is Chief Judge Ahmed Shakeel.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the defendant’s attorney revealed that the documents except for the confidential ones have now been received. State prosecutors had earlier sought from the judges’ bench to maintain the confidentiality of some evidences.

The judge explained the charges raised against Alom in detail as well as why he is being charged. As such, if the charge of deliberate murder is proven in court, Alom will face a death penalty. Further, if the charge of abuse of a human corpse is proven at court, Alom faces a sentence of two months and 12 days in prison.

The murder suspect was also briefed on the consequences that will follow if he pleads guilty to the charges.

State prosecutors revealed that they wish for the trial to be carried out with the submission of evidence, although the suspect has confessed.

The suspect’s attorney stated that the procedures to be followed with a trial following the confession is highlighted in the Criminal Procedure Code. As such, the case should proceed as a fast-tracked trial. Going on to state that there was a procedure to be followed if his client revoked his confession, the defendant’s lawyer stated that proceeding the trial with submission of evidence after guilt is admitted, would not fit into the legal mandate.

An additional hearing in the case has been scheduled for 9:30am, January 26.

The body of the 57-year-old man was found suspended inside a well, tied up and stuffed inside a sack on 14 October 2021. There were to have been visible signs of torture on the body. Dhangethi Council President revealed that Mahmood was a good man and a successful entrepreneur who did not have any issues with anyone.

Mahmood used to supply food staples to the island community and owned a café and boat as well. He was last seen a night before his disappearance and never returned home after going to see the SAFF Championship match. With this, the family had informed the council. The council revealed that the entire island was left staggered by the murder.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) had earlier revealed that the body of the slain entrepreneur was thrown into the well he was found in, five hours after he was murdered.

As such, Superintendent of Police Hassan Saeed, Head of Maldives Police Service (MPS)’s Serious and Organized Crime Department, revealed that Alom, 29, had phoned Mahmood on the night of 13 October 2021.

Findings indicate that Mahmood had gone to meet Alom after the call, made around five minutes past 9pm that night.

Police do not believe Mahmood and Alom shared a friendship nor any sort of bond.

Further, findings indicate that Mahmood was first attacked inside “Nedhunge” – the suspect’s residence in Dhangethi island – and he was attacked three times in five hours, as per footages uncovered by the police institution in the investigation.

Superintendent Saeed revealed that Alom was spotted walking out of the house with a body thrown over his shoulder, five hours after Mahmood entered the house. He went on to state that Mahmood’s body had visible head injuries as well as order 30 stab wounds, it is believed that the wounds were inflicted with a sharp object.

Some of Mahmood’s belongings were found buried inside the house Alom was residing in. Police assert that they have sufficient evidence to prove the accusations against the Bangladeshi national, including the weapons found inside the suspect’s house.

Mahmood’s spouse, Moomina Umar has since urged President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to bring the perpetrators in front of justice. The president is to have made a condolences-call to the family, and assured them that the investigation will proceed without interruption. He also gave the family the assurance that the authorities would use all available resources to find the perpetrators.