Seven individuals who were charged in connection with the hammer attack on former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem have been acquitted by the Maldives Criminal Court. The incident took place in February of the previous year, outside Shameem's home, after he was reportedly followed. CCTV footage allegedly captured the assault.

The accused were:

1. 
   

   Midhhath Adam (Riveli, R. Alifushi)

   
   


2. 
   

   Mohamed Jazlan (Javaahiru Villa, Thundi, L. Gan)

   
   


3. 
   

   Zayan Naseer (Kemihiya, ADh. Maamigili)

   
   


4. 
   

   Abaan Abdul Hannaan (Ruvaa, Th. Dhiyamigili)

   
   


5. 
   

   Rajvan Latheef (Murin'gi, L. Maamendhoo)

   
   


6. 
   

   Ahmed Maisan Hashim (Male' Register No. 2247)

   
   


7. 
   

   Shamaal Hussain (Musthareege, Th. Gaadhiffushi)

   
   

The group faced charges of attempted murder using a deadly weapon. The trial commenced in September last year, during which Shameem also testified.

However, in a verdict delivered last Monday, the court cleared all seven defendants of the charges. The central reason for the acquittal was discrepancies in the timestamps of the submitted CCTV footage compared to the reported time of the attack. Judge Ibrahim Ihusan stated that the prosecution failed to clarify the inconsistencies between the timestamps and the timeline of events.

The court noted that no inquiries were made during the trial to explain the time mismatch, which cast doubt on the reliability of the primary evidence. The judgment emphasized that such inconsistencies weaken the prosecution's case, especially in the absence of supplementary evidence.

According to the charges, Midhhath allegedly carried out the assault, with Jazlan accused of transporting him to the scene on a motorcycle. Maisan was said to have supplied the motorcycle used in the attack. The other four were accused of helping plan the incident and being present at the location in a vehicle before fleeing.