The Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the seven men acquitted of the murder of Mohamed Anas inside the Litus Service Centre in Male' eight years ago to be remanded in custody.

Seven years after the murder, all seven suspects charged in the case were found not guilty by the Criminal Court in 2024.

Three men were charged with murder and four men were charged with aiding and abetting the murder in connection with the fatal stabbing on July 31, 2017.

Ahmed Zayan, along with Usman Shareef and Afrah Abdul Razzaq were charged with premeditated murder using a sharp object.

The four suspects charged as their alleged accomplices were Junaih Abdulla, Hassan Mahfooz, Mohamed Shaz and Shimah Moosa.

The faces of the assailants had been concealed and state witnesses who testified during the trial were unable to identify them.

On Sunday, the Supreme Court ordered the remand of the seven defendants until the judges hearing the appeal in the High Court decide on their remand.

The justices decided that their release could create public fear and endanger the safety and security of society.