The Criminal Court grants the chance to appoint a council for murder suspect Ali Shahil after his public defender recused from the case.
Shahil was arrested for the gruesome murder of Shiyau Mohamed Saeed who was found brutally murdered, dismembered, and decapitated in an apartment in Male' in August last year.
While Shahil was arrested from the scene of the crime, he is the only suspect arrested in this case and has been formally charged with 5 offenses. His trial is being held at the Criminal Court behind closed doors.
In comments to the media, a communications official from the Criminal Court said that the previous public defender assigned to the case was recused last Wednesday and that in the hearing held on the next day, the defendant requested a defense counsel.
The official from the Criminal Court said that the Prosecutor General's office said that a public defender would be assigned to the Defendant within five days and that this was conveyed with the backing from the Attorney General's office.
The Official went on to say that the case was still at the Preliminary stage and that till a public defender is appointed the Court would decide on an Evidence Protection Order.
The Prosecutor General's Office has only revealed three offenses which include murdering with a sharp object, use of cannabis, and possession of pornography and has not given the details on the other two offenses.
