Man Sentenced to 100 Years in Prison For Cultivating Cannabis
A man has been sentenced to a total of 100 years in prison and fined MVR 400,000 after being convicted of cultivating cannabis plants and possessing illegal drugs.
The Criminal Court ruled that Ahmed Yasih of Kendhikulhudhoo, Nishan, was guilty on four counts related to drug offences, following the discovery of cannabis plants and more than 300 grams of various narcotics at his residence in Malé.
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According to the prosecution, police first became aware of the case in May 2023 after receiving information about a cannabis plant near the door of a house in Malé. When officers attended the scene, Yasih reportedly told police that the plant belonged to him and that additional cannabis plants could be found on the balcony and inside the apartment.
A subsequent search of the residence uncovered additional cannabis plants as well as narcotics stored in different parts of the apartment, police testified in court.
During the trial, Yasih denied the charges and said it was “strange” to suggest that the cannabis plants found at his home belonged to him. However, in its ruling delivered on 31 December 2026, the Criminal Court stated that cannabis plants are not naturally found in the Maldives. The court said Yasih had failed to explain how he obtained the plants or for what purpose, concluding that they had been cultivated by him.
The court found that the prosecution had proven all charges beyond reasonable doubt. Yasih was sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined MVR 100,000 for each of the four counts, amounting to a combined sentence of 100 years and fines totalling MVR 400,000.
The court also ruled that the two years and seven months Yasih spent in custody during the investigation and trial would be deducted from his sentence.
The judgment noted that Yasih’s defence had, at various stages, claimed he was unfit to stand trial. However, the court said this claim could not be considered as no medical assessment or supporting documentation had been submitted.
