Ziyadham’s Murder: High Court Upholds Death Sentence for Shanoon

The High Court has upheld the death sentence issued against Mohamed Shanoon, a native of L. Mundhoo, for the murder of Ali Ziyadham of Noovilu, L. Mundhoo.

The Criminal Court has pressed charges against Mohamed Shanoon and Ali Sifam, both natives of L. Mundhoo, in connection with this case. Both individuals have been charged with intentional homicide using a sharp object.

Citing evidence presented by the state, the court noted that Ziyadham, Sifam, and Shanoon were known associates. The court further highlighted that on the night of the incident, the three individuals were together consuming alcohol, and the altercation was triggered by remarks made by Ziyadham regarding Sifam’s younger sibling.

During the heated argument, a physical altercation broke out between Ali Ziyadham and Sifam, at which point Shanoon joined the fray and engaged in the violence. Shanoon then stabbed Ziyadham in the back and leg using a knife with an eight-inch blade. Even after Ziyadham fled and locked himself inside the kitchen of a temporary shelter on the island, Shanoon and Sifam pursued him and continued their violent assault.

However, despite Sifam's involvement in the altercation, no witnesses testified to seeing him stab Ziyadham. Aside from statements claiming he was seen holding a knife while in the kitchen, there was no further evidence to corroborate those assertions.

Among them, Shanoon has been found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of intentional murder using a sharp-edged weapon.

However, the prosecution failed to establish the essential elements of the crime to a standard sufficient for a conviction against Sifam. In this regard, the judge noted that under Section 87 of the Criminal Procedure Act, even if there is insufficient evidence to prove the specific offense charged, a defendant may still be found guilty of a different offense if the elements of that crime are proven through the same underlying acts.

In this regard, the presiding judge stated that the evidence presented to the court proves Sifam assisted in the commission of the crime. The judge noted that, in addition to assaulting Ziyadham, Sifam played a role in facilitating the actions that led to his death. Consequently, the court ruled that the charge of accessory to intentional murder using a sharp object had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Criminal Court has sentenced Shanoon to death after finding him guilty of the intentional murder of Ziyadham with a sharp object. The verdict was delivered after all of Ziyadham’s legal heirs testified that they wish to seek the death penalty as retribution (Qisas).

The High Court has upheld the death sentence issued against Shanoon, following an appeal of the lower court's verdict in the case.