The Criminal Court has sentenced a man to prison after finding him guilty of diamorphine trafficking.

Charges in this case were brought against Shayal Bin Rilwan. He was prosecuted for diamorphine trafficking following information received by the police in April of last year, when officers used a key in Shayal's possession to open the under-seat compartment of a motorcycle and discovered drugs while inspecting a cloth bag inside.

According to the verdict, analysis of the items confirmed a total of 30 grams of diamorphine contained in rubber packets inside the cloth bag. The verdict also noted that items commonly used in drug trafficking, such as rubber packets and weighing equipment, were found under the motorcycle's seat.

During the preliminary hearing of the case, Shayal denied the charges. He claimed that the motorcycle in which the drugs were found was not his, and that the key to the motorcycle did not belong to him either.

However, the verdict stated that despite Shayal's denial, the evidence presented to the court by the prosecution proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Consequently, the Criminal Court sentenced him to 24 years and 11 months in prison, along with a fine of MVR 100,000.