Criminal Court Sentences Man to Death Over 2018 Murder

The Criminal Court has sentenced Hamdhoon Hamzath to death for the murder of 19-year-old Ibrahim Aagil, who was killed in Male in August 2018.

Aagil was attacked with a sharp object on 31 August 2018 after arriving at jetty number one from Vaavu Felidhoo. Aagil was stabbed on the chest and later died from his injuries in hospital.

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Hamdhoon Hamzath, from L. Fonadhoo, and Ali Mijwadh Malik, from Addu City, were charged with intentional murder using a sharp weapon. A third man, Ibrahim Wisam, from Haa Alifu Dhidhdhoo, was charged with aiding and abetting the attack. While Hamdhoon was found guilty of Agil’s murder, the other two suspects – Mijvad and Visham – were acquitted earlier.

In a judgement delivered Sunday, Judge Ali Adam ruled that Hamdhoon Hamzath was guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt. 

The court found that Hamdhoon was seen chasing Aagil while carrying a knife, and that there was no reason to doubt this evidence. The verdict stated that the attack was specifically directed at Aagil and carried out with the intent to kill.

“The chest is a fragile part of the body, and if it is targeted by a knife multiple times, a person can die,” the judgement read.

The court also noted that Hamdhoon attempted to flee the area following the attack. Medical evidence confirmed that Aagil died as a result of the stab wounds he sustained.

During the trial, Aagil’s parents stated that they sought the death penalty for those responsible.

The judgement referred to key testimony from a protected witness, identified as “Secret Witness 8”, who testified on 20 September 2021 that he was present at the scene and saw Hamdhoon stab Aagil in the chest before fleeing the area on a motorcycle while holding a knife. The court described the witness as central to the prosecution’s case.

Although the witness later submitted a letter to the court in November 2023 requesting that his testimony be withdrawn, Judge Ali Adam ruled that the evidence remained admissible. The judge stated that the testimony was given voluntarily, without coercion, and was consistent with statements made during the investigation.

“There is no legal or judicial reason to reject this testimony,” the judge said, adding that he had no doubts about the fairness of the evidence given at trial.

The court also addressed broader concerns about witness intimidation. Judge Ali Adam said that intimidation by individuals accused of serious crimes, as well as by their families and legal representatives, had become a major challenge for the criminal justice system.

“This is happening and poses a serious obstacle to justice,” the ruling stated.

The judge called for a more effective witness protection system to ensure confidentiality and urged greater cooperation among institutions to expedite trials, noting that the case had faced delays for several reasons.

Two months after Aagil’s murder, 14-year-old Ismail Shaffan was killed near Auto Garage in Malé City. Police have previously said that both killings were linked to retaliatory gang violence in the capital.