Murder suspect arrested on assault charges

Jun 4, 2023, 10:24 AM
A police vehicle in Male' -- Photo: Adhadhu

A police vehicle in Male' -- Photo: Adhadhu

A suspect arrested in connection with an attempted assault in Majeedhee Magu on Friday night was previously acquitted on murder charges, Adhadhu has learned.

Mohamed Mafaz Hussain was accused of fatally stabbing Ibrahim Nadheem inside the Terminal cafe in Male'. But he was found not guilty and freed by the criminal court.

After he was taken to court for extension of detention over Friday night's assault, the criminal court remanded Mafaz to 15 days in custody.

He was arrested on charges of intimidation and possession of dangerous weapons and sharp objects. The police also retrieved a machete from the scene.

The police previously said that its high visibility department had foiled an attempted assault amongst a group armed with knives. One suspect was apprehended but two others fled the scene.

They escaped after leaving behind their motorcycles and the police towed the two vehicles.

While a suspect in Nadheem's murder was arrested on Friday night, the state has appealed the acquittal at the high court.

The charges could not be proven at the lower court after two witnesses retracted their testimony.

Mafaz was charged based on statements from two eyewitnesses who identified him after his face-covering fell off during the assault.

But in a letter sent to the court, the two witnesses later claimed to have testified based on suspicion over the assailant's identity.

The judge said the doubts raised by the letter could not be dispelled and ruled that Mafaz was not guilty.

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