A Maldivian man, Ghassan Ali, has been sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison and fined MVR 50,000 after pleading guilty to trafficking cannabis, marking the end of a lengthy legal process that began nearly four years ago.
The case dates back to 2021, when police conducted an operation that resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of cannabis. The drugs were discovered in an apartment where Ghassan and two other individuals were present, as well as at Ghassan’s own residence. Authorities later filed formal trafficking charges against all three suspects.
When the trial first began, Ghassan denied the charges, prompting the prosecution to present evidence and witness testimony to support its case. However, in 2022, after nearly four years of court proceedings and hearings, Ghassan changed his plea to guilty. His decision came following the completion of the testimony stage, signaling a turning point in the prolonged trial.
Last month, Ghassan’s defense attorney submitted a plea agreement to the Prosecutor General’s Office, which was subsequently endorsed by the Criminal Court. The agreement paved the way for a formal sentencing, with the court considering the time Ghassan had already spent in custody.
Having already spent three years and 11 months in pre-trial detention, Ghassan will now serve the remaining eight years, six months, and 28 days of his sentence. The case highlights the long judicial timelines often involved in drug-related prosecutions in the Maldives, as well as the increasing number of plea deals being accepted by local courts in recent years.
ކެނަބިސް ވިޔަފާރި ކުރުމުގެ ކުށަށް އިޢުތިރާފުވުމާ ގުޅިގެން ޣައްސާން ޢަލީގެ މައްޗަށް 12 އަހަރާއި 6 މަސް ދުވަހުގެ ޖަލު ޙުކުމެއް އަދި 50,000 ރުފިޔާގެ ޖޫރިމަނާއެއް ކްރިމިނަލް ކޯޓުން ކޮށްފިއެވެ.
މި މައްސަލައިގެ ދަޢުވާ ޣައްސާންގެ މައްޗަށް އުފުލާފައިވަނީ 2021 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ ފުލުހުންގެ އޮޕަރޭޝަނަކާ ގުޅިގެންނެވެ. އެ އޮޕަރޭޝަނުގައި އޭނާ އާއި އެހެން ދެ މީހެއްގެ އަތުން ގިނަ ޢަދަދެއްގެ ކެނަބިސް ވަނީ ހިފަހައްޓާފައެވެ.
ކެނަބިސް ހޯދާފައިވަނީ ޣައްސާން އާއި އެހެން ދެ މީހުން ތިބި އެޕާޓްމެންޓަކުންނާއި، ޣައްސާންގެ އަމިލަ ގެއިންނެވެ.
މައްސަލައިގެ ޝަރީޢަތް ފެށުނުއިރު ޣައްސާން އެ ކުށަށް އިޢުތިރާފުވެފައި ނުވި ނަމަވެސް، ދައުލަތުން ހެކި ހުށަހެޅުމުގެ މަރުޙަލާ ހިމެނޭ ގޮތަށް ހަތަރު އަހަރާ ގާތްކުރާ މުއްދަތެއްގެ މަދަނީ ބައްދަލުވުންތަކަށް ފަހު، 2022 ވަނަ އަހަރު އޭނާ ވަނީ އިޢުތިރާފުވުމަށް ނިންމާފައެވެ.
މިދިޔަ މަހު ޣައްސާންގެ ޤާނޫނީ ވަކީލު ވަނީ ޕްލީ އެގްރީމެންޓެއް ޕްރޮސެކިއުޓަރ ޖެނެރަލްގެ އޮފީހަށް ހުށަހަޅާފައެވެ. އަދި މި އެއްބަސްވުން ކްރިމިނަލް ކޯޓުން ވަނީ ޤަބޫލުކޮށްފައެވެ.
ތަޙުޤީޤު އަދި ޝަރީޢަތުގެ މުއްދަތުގައި ތިން އަހަރާއި 11 މަސް ހޭދަވެފައިވާތީ، ޣައްސާން ޖަލުގައި ހުންނަން ޖެހޭ ބާކީ މުއްދަތަކީ 8 އަހަރާއި 6 މަހާއި 28 ދުވަހެވެ.
