The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has denied the accusations made by a murder suspect.

Adham Mohamed claims that police had coerced him into confessing to the murder of taxi driver, Gasim Hassan, by drugging him and that his previous confessions were given under a state of intoxication.

While he had previously admitted to the murder, both during investigation and court proceedings, Adham made these accusations and retracted his confession at Tuesday’s hearing.

Police spokesperson, Izmia Zahir said that these allegations are “baseless and void of truth”.

Furthermore, police assured that the case was forwarded for prosecution with enough evidence to convict him “even if he denies the charge.”

59-year-old Gasim Hassan was found dead in the capital’s suburban district Hulhumalé on December 4. Adham Mohamed was arrested on December 19, and is to have confessed the next day even recounting details of the murder.

The suspect told authorities that he had never intended to kill older man, but to rob him.

While he now denies committing the crime, Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has also assured that there was enough evidence to prove his guilty without a confession. However, he noted that retracting it will worsen things for the suspect, as the 17-year jail sentence deal will be dismissed and he will be tried for life.