Man sentenced to 25 years for diamorphine trafficking

A court has sentenced a man convicted of diamorphine trafficking to 25 years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of MVR 100,000.

The convicted individual was identified as Ali Ibrahim, 37, of Suneetha House, Sh. Milandhoo.

The case stems from a police operation conducted on 12 January 2023 after authorities received information alleging that Ibrahim was using, possessing and selling narcotics.

During a search of his residence, police recovered diamorphine from his bedroom.

According to court records, officers seized 0.1129 grams of diamorphine packaged in five paper packets from a desk drawer, as well as 9.7570 grams contained in a rubber packet found inside the pocket of a shirt hanging in a wardrobe.

Police also stated that Ibrahim admitted during the initial investigation that he had used diamorphine.

The state filed trafficking charges against him on 13 March 2023.

In its judgment delivered on Sunday, the Sh. Milandhoo Magistrate Court ruled that the prosecution had proven both the physical and mental elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.

The court imposed a 25-year prison sentence. After accounting for time already spent in detention, Ibrahim has 24 years, 11 months and one day remaining on the sentence.

The court also ordered him to pay a fine of MVR 100,000 within 12 months.

During the trial, Ibrahim denied the charges. He argued that the bedroom where the drugs were found had previously been broken into while he was away and claimed that several people had access to the room during his absence.

To support its case, the prosecution presented 12 witnesses and 16 documentary exhibits.

Evidence presented in court included a handwritten list recovered from the room containing names and monetary amounts. Police testified that Ibrahim had described the document as a record of money owed to him.

The prosecution also submitted the results of a urine test conducted at Sh. Milandhoo Police Station, which tested positive for narcotics, along with evidence relating to his statements during the investigation.

Bank of Maldives records presented in court showed a large number of transactions through Ibrahim's account between 1 December 2022 and 17 January 2023, including repeated deposits involving the same individuals.

Court records show that Ibrahim is also facing three additional diamorphine trafficking cases before the same court.

Proceedings in those cases were suspended pending the outcome of this trial.