Supreme Court orders retrial over Lamha's release
Lamha had been in custody awaiting trial when she was granted bail on November 12, 2023
Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the High Court to review the case of Haleemath Lamha Abdul Rahman, who was previously released on bail despite facing charges related to the murder of Philippine nurse Mary Grace.
The decision follows an appeal from the prosecution after the High Court declined to register the case and upheld its earlier ruling, which had allowed Lamha’s release.
Lamha had been in custody awaiting trial when she was granted bail on November 12, 2023. However, the prosecution filed an appeal, seeking to overturn the Criminal Court’s decision.
The High Court, after reviewing the case, decided not to pursue the matter further, which led the prosecution to take the case to the Supreme Court.
The apex court has now ruled that the High Court's refusal to hear the case was incorrect, and has called for an investigation into the circumstances of Lamha's release.
The case centers around the tragic death of Mary Grace, a nurse employed in the dialysis department of IGMH, whose death was initially reported as a suicide by her husband, Marvin SY Vargas, on October 19, 2021.
However, the police investigation later shifted focus when evidence suggested foul play.
Vargas was arrested on October 27, 2021, under suspicion of murder. Lamha was arrested on December 16, 2021, more than a month after Vargas, and was charged as a co-conspirator in the death of Mary Grace.
The prosecution argues that Lamha's involvement in the murder was linked to her alleged affair with Marvin Vargas, as the two were said to be secret lovers.
The release of Lamha from custody, despite these serious charges, raised questions about the handling of her case, particularly after her remand was ordered in December 2023 by the High Court. Lamha remained in custody for several months before being granted bail, a decision now under scrutiny by the Supreme Court.
