Supreme Court rules death penalty cannot apply to minor in 2012 murder case

The Supreme Court of the Maldives ruled on Wednesday that the death penalty cannot be imposed on a person who was a minor at the time of the 2012 killing of Abdul Muheeth near the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises.

The case relates to the fatal stabbing of Muheeth in an alleyway near the ministry in February 2012. Following the incident, the Juvenile Court sentenced two minors to death, marking the first time the court had issued capital punishment.

In its ruling concerning one of the defendants, the Supreme Court stated that the current Juvenile Justice Act does not permit the death penalty for offences committed by minors.

The court also stated that under Islamic Shari’ah principles, Qisas, or retaliatory punishment, cannot be applied where the offender is a minor.

As a result, the Supreme Court annulled earlier rulings by both the Juvenile Court and the High Court and ordered the case to be sent back to the Juvenile Court for reconsideration.

According to court records, the attack on Muheeth involved three minors and three adults. Two adults convicted in the case were previously sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

Muheeth sustained more than 20 stab wounds and head injuries during the attack.