High Court rejects Saahil's second appeal against prison sentence

The High Court has rejected, for a second time, an appeal filed by Ali Saahil against the prison sentence imposed on him following his conviction on charges of possessing pornography and using cannabis.

Saahil, of Finifenmaage, F. Nilandhoo, was sentenced in April to three years, one month and six days in prison.

The convictions are linked to the case involving the death of 22-year-old Shiaau Mohamed Saeed, whose body was found in a ninth-floor apartment at H. Sheereenvilla on 6 August 2022.

Police arrested Saahil, who was staying in the apartment, on the night Shiaau's body was discovered.

He has been charged with intentional murder using a sharp object, possession of pornography, cannabis use and two additional charges that remain confidential.

The latest application marked Saahil's second attempt to appeal his conviction before the High Court.

In rejecting the appeal, the High Court Registrar said the application did not establish sufficient legal grounds for an appeal under the Criminal Procedure Act.

According to the Registrar's decision, the application failed to present legal arguments that met the statutory threshold required for the appeal to proceed.

The High Court had previously rejected Saahil's first appeal because the required documentation had not been submitted.

Proceedings in the Criminal Court on the remaining charges, including the murder charge, have reached the closing arguments stage. The hearings are being conducted in camera.

Saahil has denied all charges against him.

The case was delayed during the early stages after Saahil repeatedly refused to communicate with his defence lawyers. Although the state appointed legal counsel for him on several occasions, the appointments were later discontinued because of his continued lack of cooperation.