Drug trafficking life sentence overturned on irregularities
In its ruling, the appellate court said Ramiz Ahmed, from Janavareemaage in Laamu Isdhoo, was “deprived of the fundamental constitutional right” to examine the evidence or witnesses against him.
19 Aug 2015, 9:00 AM
The High Court on Tuesday overturned a man’s life sentence on drug trafficking charges on the grounds that the accused was not allowed to respond to the prosecution’s evidence.
In its ruling, the appellate court said Ramiz Ahmed, from Janavareemaage in Laamu Isdhoo, was “deprived of the fundamental constitutional right” to examine the evidence or testimony against him.
The criminal court reached a guilty verdict based on a police report that stated the defendant’s fingerprints were found an envelop containing illicit narcotics. However, Ramiz was neither informed of the report nor offered an opportunity to respond to its contents.
Ramiz was arrested along with another man on September 5, 2010 from a residence in Malé. The police found three rubber packets with 329 grams of heroin. The pair also tested positive for cannabis.
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