The Criminal Court has sentenced the Bangladeshi national Sumon over the murder of a woman found dead on a road of the capital city Male'. The woman named Hawwa Zaha was murdered about two years back and she was found dead on a small path around her neighbourhood.
Sumon was charged with intentional murder by strangling Hawwa Zaha. During the investigation, the accused had confessed to killing the victim. However, later Sumon denied killing Zaha and changed his statement saying that he did not kill Zaha but held Zaha’s neck when she tried to snatch his money.
The Criminal Court’s hearing held on Sunday stated that it is not possible for Sumon to change his statement given the fact that the Supreme Court had concluded that it is a matter of someone right being infringed and in such cases, it is not be allowed to take back the words after confession.
The hearing further states that according to Zaha’s death certificate, she died chocking due to strangulation. Therefore, it was an intentional murder, and during the trial, it has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Sumon killed Zaha.
While Sumon is found guilty of murdering Zaha, her mother has stated that she does not wish the death penalty for Sumon. Hence, the court looked into Zaha’s mother’s wording when deciding its verdict.
The court has stated that for Sumon’s crime the punishment listed in the Penal Code is to imprison for ten years, however, due to the method he used to commit the crime, it got two levels higher, resulting 15 years imprisonment.
The judge, Ibrahim Ali who was presiding the case ordered to imprison Sumon for 15 years, pay MVR 100,000 as blood money within one month and being a Muslim, as an expiation fast for two lunar months consecutively.