Nizam jailed for life over Litton murder case
The prosecution stated that Litton was killed for money.
The Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced Mohamed Nizam to life imprisonment for the murder of Bangladeshi national Mohamed Litton.
An oil tanker from Gdh. Thinadhoo, carrying Nizam and Litton, was reported missing on 28 December 2022. The following day, the vessel was found empty near the airport canal.
Nizam was later located in Malé after a photograph of him circulated on social media. He was arrested at a guesthouse in the city and remanded in custody for 60 days by the Criminal Court.
Search efforts to recover Litton’s body were unsuccessful. The prosecution filed a murder charge, stating that Nizam killed Litton by throwing him into the sea.
The prosecution stated that Litton was killed for money, with 51,000 in the vessel. Nizam also faced a charge of theft. He was further charged with intentional homicide, robbery and drug use.
Nizam was charged under Article 110 of the Penal Code for knowingly causing the death of another person. The law states that if a person dies as a result of a reckless act committed without regard for human life, the act constitutes an offence.
The court stated that Litton had placed trust in Nizam during the journey, and that trust was breached.
The maximum penalty for the offence is 25 years’ imprisonment or life imprisonment. After deducting 3 years, 1 month and 29 days spent in custody, the remaining sentence stands at 21 years, 10 months and 1 day.
Nizam was also sentenced to one year in prison for theft.
