Taxi driver’s murder case: Wednesday's hearing cancelled

Wednesday’s hearing in Gasim Hassan’s murder case has been cancelled.

Criminal Court said that the hearing was cancelled as the presiding Judge Ismail Rasheed was feeling unwell.

Adham Mohamed, 21, is charged with first-degree murder in Gasim’s death, under the Act on Prohibiting ‎Threatening and Possession of Dangerous Weapons and Sharp ‎Objects.

The last hearing in the case was held on October 11, where Adham was given more time to appoint a defence lawyer.

The suspect had sought to appoint his own attorney, after expressing discontent with the one appointed by the state.

While Adham was given more time to appoint a lawyer during a previous hearing, he had failed to do so by October 11. He had noted difficulties in appointing a lawyer, due to being kept on what he described as "a pigeon hole”.

The suspect had previously confessed to the murder. While the presiding judge had, during a hearing held in February, repeatedly asked whether there was any coercion to his decision, Adham had said that he made the confession on his own free will.

Following his confession, the initial sentence of 25 years was reduced to a 17-year and six-month prison sentence, and a fast-track hearing was scheduled.

However, he has since denied the charges against him and claimed that he was coerced into a confession. He further claimed that he was not of sound mind when the confessions were made.

Adham was arrested on 19 December 2019, days after Gasim’s body was discovered lying face-down in a puddle of blood on the road in Hulhumalé on 4 December.

Police earlier confirmed that the suspect has a long criminal history including theft and cases related to drugs.

Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem had previously assured that there is enough evidence to convict him even if he retracts his confession, adding that doing so will only make things worse for the suspect.