Police asked for Faih to be jailed pending trial’s end, court grants 15 days

The Criminal Court granted a 15-day extension to the remand of Ibrahim Faih Nizam, who surrendered to police amid a two-month manhunt for him on Wednesday, despite appeals by police to have him jailed pending the outcome of his trial.

Faih, 25, who has been charged with assault with a sharp-edged weapon in connection to serial gang fights that broke out in Male’ City in February, is also a suspect in a murder which took place while he had been on the run.

He was presented before the court for his remand hearing Wednesday. At the hearing, police asked for the court to remand him in jail pending the outcome of his trial, citing that he poses a threat to the safety of the community.

The police argued that he had been on the run after he became a suspect in the crime, and that he was therefore a proven flight risk.

However, the court extended Faih’s remand by 15 days.

Judge Ismail Shafeeu said he found it important that the judge have the power to decide his remand, given he has been formally charged.

Police had made an announcement seeking the public’s help in finding Faih on February 15, following his suspected involvement in a fight between two rival gangs.

He was on the run when he became one of the suspects in the murder of a young man in shop in Maafannu district.

Mohamed Ahmed Didi (Naushad), 30, Izmeer, S. Hithadhoo, was stabbed inside a shop located near the BG Garage in Maafannu district of Male’ at around 09:30 pm on February 24. He succumbed to his injuries on February 27.

Eye witnesses report two people had been actively involved in the stabbing.

The second suspect, a 20-year-old male, was arrested on February 26. He had been remanded in jail pending the outcome of his trial.

Faih surrendered to the police on March 21.