The High Court has overturned Criminal Court's acquittal in a drug trafficking case, sentencing Mohammad Mamdhooh to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of MVR 100,000.

Mamdhooh was initially acquitted by the criminal court after being arrested in a police raid at Flash Guesthouse, where he was allegedly found in possession of drugs. The arrest followed a tip-off that Mamdooh was carrying and selling drugs from room number two at the guesthouse.

Despite his denial of the charges and the criminal court’s ruling that the evidence presented did not meet the standard of proof required for conviction, the state appealed the case to the High Court.

Upon reviewing the case, the High Court found Mamdhooh guilty of trafficking diamorphine and handed him a life sentence, along with the MVR 100,000 fine. Mamdhooh has been ordered to pay the fine to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority within 12 months.