Criminal Court on Monday sentenced Aafiya Mohamed Manik to 20 years in jail after finding her guilty in the murder of her son, Mohamed Ibthihaal, 3, in V. Rakeedho back in January 2015.

Even though Aafiya had confessed to both charges of intentionally killing a young child and disobedience, she later withdrew her confession.

Judge Mohamed Sameer who presided over the case said that even though Aafiya had claimed that she was coerced into confessing, no such statement was made in the presence of a lawyer when she confessed to the murder. He further added that medical reports have confirmed that Ibthihaal died from the beatings by Aafiya, to which she had already confessed to.

The judge further stated that witness statements from the residents of the island made it clear that they had failed to report on multiple times when Aafiya tortured Ibthihaal. He also stressed that Ibthihaal died before government authorities decided to take clear action on the matter and take the child into state custody due to the unsafe environment he was in.

During the hearing, Judge Sameer also emphasized that Aafiya had confessed on multiple occasions that she had beaten Ibthihaal with the intent to kill him out of hatred. As such she had strangled him in an attempt to suffocate him on the day of his death.

Hence, Aafiya was found guilty of intentionally killing a young child on the basis of her confession along with medical reports and incriminating evidence.

Judge Sameer sentenced Aafiya to 20 years in prison based on the evidence provided.