High Court has supported the ruling issued by Criminal Court on the 11 year jail sentence issued on former Defense Minister Colonel (Rtd) Mohamed Nazim.
The ruling was issued in the final hearings of the appeal filed in the Court.
Announcing the verdict, High Court Judge Abdul Rauf Ibrahim said that the defense had not been able to prove that the weapon found in Nazim’s residence was not his. He added that the defense had not been able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt or offer forensic evidence to back their claims.
The Judge also noted that showing the state witnesses statements to the witnesses was not intimidation and that there were no conflicts between the statements. He further noted that Nazim had been offered sufficient time to prepare their defense, adding that some of the witnesses by the defense had not been summoned to court.
The Judge further noted that the new penal code was not in implementation and that there were no supporting laws under which the ruling can be overturned.
He added that Nazim’s lawyers had not been able to prove their case made on four points. The four points raised by the defense were allegations of framing Nazim, lack of connection between the weapon and Nazim, the fact that Nazim’s room is rarely locked and that the weapons were not Nazim’s. His defense alleged that there were many conflicting witness statements.
Judge said that while the prosecution had said that Nazim was capable of using arms, there were no procedural issues while searching Nazim’s apartment.
The ruling was unanimously issued by the three judges.
Nazim’s family had said that they will appeal the ruling in Supreme Court.
High Court supports Criminal Court ruling on Nazim
