High Court overturns ruling to release man accused of drug peddling

The High Court has overturned the ruling by the Hoarafushi Magistrate Court to release a man accused of widespread drug peddling.

Ibrahim Mohamed, native to Hoarafushi island was arrested on 7 September 2023 under a court order accused of widespread smuggling and peddling of drugs in Hoarafushi island.

The prosecution had filed with the Hoarafushi Magistrate Court seeking his remand as it appeared that there were chances, he could destroy evidence against him, repeat the crime and pose a threat to the safety and security of society.

His remand period has been extended since, with the prosecution appealing to remand him for the remainder of the trial once the remand period expired the second time.

However, the court had ruled to release him on conditional bail.

With this, the prosecution then filed the ruling at the High Court.

High Court Judges Dheebanaz Fahmy, Huzaifa Mohamed and Ahmed Shakeel reached the verdict to overturn the Magistrate Court ruling, unanimously.

The High Court also ruled that his remand should be ruled if he is produced before the lower court within seven days, in light of the facts mentioned in the High Court ruling.

According to the High Court order, the Magistrate Court’s order did not specify how the circumstances under which Ibrahim Mohamed’s remand was decided, depending on the extent of his willingness to influence a witness, whether he had confessed to the crime or not, and his power and influence in the society.