Nadheem's murder suspects given 10 days to appoint lawyers

Four individuals, charged with the murder of Nadheem 'Nadey' Abdul Raheem, have been given 10 days to appoint lawyers.

The four individuals -Mohamed Mafaz, Ali Nifaz, Hussain Shaameen and Mohamed Karam- have denied the allegation.

Mafaz is charged with first-degree murder, while the rest are charged with accessory.

24-year-old Nadheem was at a café in the capital Malé City on 27th July, when he was stabbed in the head by a group of masked assailants; he died two days later while receiving treatment.

According to the charges against Mafaz, he is the one that carried out the fatal attack on Nadheem, on the 27th of July. If found guilty, he will be sentenced to death.

The state claims that Nifaz, Shameen and Karam were involved in the attack, having arrived at the café in motorcycles. They face a jail sentence of 15 to 25 years.

Furthermore, state had requested to keep Karam in police custody until the end of trial. However, presiding judge Mujthaz Fahmy denied the request, saying the Court can only reach a decision after it receives his arrest order. He said to take the issue another day.

Criminal Court has ordered to keep the other three in remand until it reaches a verdict in the case.

A minor was also arrested in relation to Nadheem's murder; the case is at the Juvenile Court.

Police had, in September, said that Nadheem's attack was following a disagreement between two gangs.