The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has filed charges at the Criminal Court against Mohamed Nizam, native to Thinadhoo Island of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, in connection with the murder of Bangladeshi native, Mohamed Liton.

The PGO filed a total of three charges against Nizam on 02 March 2023، including first degree murder charges.

The other two charges raised against Nizam are theft and drug-dealing charges.

In an earlier presser, Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has said that Nizam’s testimonies and other evidence suggest that Liton died because of his actions.

As such, the PGO has disclosed that their findings show that Nizam killed Liton by pushing him into the ocean following which he drowned.

Nizam and Liton went missing on a fuel barge, after departing from Vilimale’. They were reported missing on 28 December, 2022.

While the barge was found near Hulhule' on 29 December, 2022, neither of the two men were onboard.

MPS later found Nizam hiding in a guest house in Hulhumale.

MPS arrested Nizam under a court order, in relation to the murder case on 03 January, 2023. He was remanded for 60 days.

The PGO said the motive for murdering Liton was to take some cash he was in possession of.

Noting that Nizam stole more than MVR 51,000 that belonged to Liton from the boat, the PGO stated that the murder took place between 07:00 pm and 08:30 pm on 28 December, 2022.

Additionally, PGO disclosed that 3.3 gram of diamorphine was seen from the apartment Nizam had rented from M.A. Shaadheevilla. It is also believed that Nizam used the money he stole from Liton to buy the drugs.

In the earlier presser, PG Shameem said that Nizam’s testimonies and other evidence suggest that Liton died because of Nizam's actions.

Shameem went on to say that the prosecution would prove in court that Nizam's actions could have killed someone. He stated that he will examine Supreme Court decisions as well as rules adopted in other nations to prove the case.

For example, the PG stated that hiding a person's body after killing him is not an excuse not to prosecute him.