The Criminal Court has sentenced Qasim Hasanfulhu, 42, of R. Inguraidhoo, Nedhunge, to 1 month and 11 days in prison for assaulting a fellow islander in Malé, following a case filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
The Incident
Court records show that on 11 May 2025, at around 11:30 a.m., Qasim struck Mohamed Rashad of R. Inguraidhoo, Andhaleebuge in the face during an altercation near the parking zone located south of Velaanaage, one of the busiest areas in the capital.
Rashad sustained visible injuries, which were later confirmed in a medico-legal report submitted to the court.
The Charge
The state charged Qasim under Section 120(a)(1) and Section 120(b)(2) of the Penal Code (Law No. 9/2014), which criminalizes unlawful physical contact or causing bodily harm without consent. Under the law, such conduct is defined as a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment.
The case was presented by Public Prosecutor Mariyam Zahir, who argued that this was not Qasim’s first offense. The defendant had been convicted of a similar assault within the past two years, which, under Section 1104(b) of the Penal Code, serves as an aggravating factor.
Guilty Plea and Confession
At the preliminary hearing, Qasim admitted to the offense and pleaded guilty. He told the court that his actions were driven by personal circumstances, alleging that the victim had been involved in a relationship with his wife and had repeatedly harassed and bullied him in public.
Despite being informed of his right to legal representation, Qasim chose to proceed without a defense lawyer. He confirmed that his confession was made voluntarily and without coercion.
Because he admitted guilt at the first stage, the case qualified for a summary trial, allowing for a swift judgment. At the summary trial hearing, Qasim reaffirmed his guilty plea and accepted full responsibility for the assault.
Sentencing Arguments
During sentencing arguments, the prosecution stressed that Qasim was a repeat offender and urged the court to impose a custodial sentence rather than a fine. Prosecutor Zahir noted that under the Supreme Court’s Sentencing Guidelines (Regulation No. 2021/02), fines cannot be substituted for imprisonment in cases of repeated violence.
Qasim, however, pleaded for leniency. He told the court that he is self-employed and financially responsible for child support, arguing that imprisonment would prevent him from fulfilling these obligations. He requested that a monetary fine be imposed instead of jail time.
The Verdict
After weighing the arguments, Judge Ustaz Abdulla Shafiu ruled that Qasim’s repeat offenses and the seriousness of the assault warranted imprisonment.
- Basic sentence: 2 months and 12 days imprisonment
- Mitigating factor: Guilty plea at the preliminary stage → sentence reduced by one level
- Aggravating factor: Repeat offense within two years → sentence increased by one level
- Final sentence: 2 months and 12 days imprisonment
However, under Section 186 of the Criminal Procedure Act (Law No. 12/2016), Qasim was credited for the 31 days spent in pre-trial detention. This reduced his final sentence to 1 month and 11 days imprisonment.
The judgment, issued on 2 September 2025, formally concluded case 423/Cr-C/2025737/2025/CRC/210LCC2025/05561.
Conclusion
The case underscores the court’s tougher stance on repeat violent offenders in the Maldives, with judges emphasizing that imprisonment, rather than fines, is appropriate when similar crimes are committed in succession.
