The Criminal Court has sentenced Mohamed Nizam, of Manaaru, Gaaf Dhaal. Thinadhoo, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of the murder of 35-year-old Bangladeshi national Mohamed Litton.
The case first came to light on December 28, 2023, when both Litton and Nizam, who worked aboard the Fuel Power company vessel "Hedhey Kuri," were reported missing. During the search operation, police located Nizam at a guesthouse on Sayyid Kilegefaanu road.
Although Litton’s body has not been recovered to date, Nizam confessed during the investigation to pushing Litton into the sea.
In its verdict yesterday, the Criminal Court found Nizam guilty of causing death through a reckless act that demonstrated a total disregard for the value of human life.
The court sentenced him to 25 years in prison for the crime. However, after deducting the time already served in custody during the trial, Nizam is required to serve a remaining sentence of 21 years, 10 months, and one day.
The court noted that the death penalty was not imposed because Litton’s body has not been found and there is a lack of direct evidence regarding the exact circumstances following the moment Litton was pushed into the water.
The fuel boat on which Litton and Nizam were traveling was discovered by police on January 1, 2023, near the Hulhule' channel. At the time of discovery, neither Litton nor Nizam was on board.
