High Court Upholds Death Sentence for Taxi Driver Qasim’s Murder

The High Court of the Maldives has unanimously upheld the death sentence imposed on a man convicted of the 2019 murder of a taxi driver during an attempted robbery in Hulhumalé.

In today’s hearing a three-judge bench ruled that the Criminal Court’s 2023 decision sentencing Adhuham Mohamed to death was legally sound, concluding that there were no grounds to overturn the verdict.

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The case stems from the fatal stabbing of taxi driver Qasim Hassan in December 2019. According to court findings, Adhuham, who was travelling in the back seat of the taxi, attacked the driver by stabbing him in the neck while attempting to rob him.

Following the Criminal Court’s conviction and death sentence in 2023, the state referred the case to the High Court for mandatory review of the capital sentence.

In its ruling, the High Court rejected several arguments raised by the defence.

During the investigation, Adhuham had confessed to the killing and entered into an agreement with the state. However, he later withdrew the confession during proceedings in the Criminal Court, claiming he had been under the influence of drugs at the time and alleging that police officers had supplied him with narcotics.

The High Court said subsequent judicial inquiries found those allegations to be false.

The court also dismissed Adhuham’s claim that the fatal stabbing had been accidental. He argued that the victim moved while the knife was being held to his neck, causing the injury. However, the bench found that the depth and nature of the wound were consistent with a deliberate, fatal strike.

The judges further rejected the argument that intoxication diminished Adhuham’s criminal responsibility, stating that any drug use had been voluntary and therefore did not exempt him from liability.

The court also relied on forensic evidence, noting that although Adhuham had attempted to conceal the knife used in the attack and the shirt he had been wearing, both items were recovered by police. DNA belonging to both Adhuham and the victim was found on the knife.

In its judgement, the High Court noted that all five of Qasim Hassan’s children had requested the enforcement of Qisas—the principle of equal retaliation under Islamic law—and had declined Adhuham’s request for forgiveness.

Although the High Court has upheld the sentence, the death penalty cannot be carried out unless the verdict is also reviewed and upheld by the Supreme Court of the Maldives.