The high court has concluded the appeal hearings in the death sentences of the four individuals involved in the murder of Abdul Mutheeth (Bobby), after four continuous years of proceedings.

The murder of Bobby occurred in 2012 whilst he sat on a motorcycle in an alley in front of the Finance Ministry in Male’, where he was unsuspectingly stabbed to death by a group of individuals who had mistaken Bobby for someone else.

Two adults were served the death sentence in 2013 in Criminal court, while a third individual was released due to a lack of evidence against him.

 In addition, there were 3 minors who were charged in Juvenile Court, where in 2016 the High Court upheld the death sentence for one of minors involved as requested by the state.

The adults involved in the case are Muhjath Ahmed Naseeh from GDh. Gadhdhoo, Mohamed Maimoon from Lh. Naifaru and Ali Mushfau from S. Maradhoo. 

The court ruled that Ali Mushfau was not guilty due failure to link him directly as the perpetrator which prevented a successful murder prosecution, meaning he was not convicted as a result of insufficient evidence against him despite him being one of the primary suspects of the murder.

The heirs of Bobby have requested ‘Qisas’, life-for-a-life retributive justice, as if none of Bobby's heirs agree to accept the blood money, under Sharia Law, the court must hand down the death sentence.

The appeal cases against the death sentences issued by the Criminal Court have been pending in the High Court since 2022, and after the High Court ruling, the case will proceed into the Supreme Court Stage.

The date of the verdict currently remains unknown.