Charges dropped after defendant found incompetent to stand trial

The Prosecutor General's Office has withdrawn charges against an individual accused of sexual abuse of a minor after a court ordered medical assessment found the defendant incompetent to stand trial. 

The PG Office had appealed at the High Court a ruling from a Magistrate Court acquitting the defendant of these charges. 

The charge cancellation report published by the High Court states that the PG Office had sent a letter to the High Court on August 6 seeking to drop the charges. 

The incident the case refers to occurred in a southern atoll. Due to the nature of the case, the High Court did not disclose the type of case, island, the concerned Magistrate Court, or identity of the defendant. 

However, the case concerns the sexual abuse of an under age girl, according to reports in Mihaaru News. 

The court's report cites the PG Office's request to withdraw charges as saying that they no longer wished to pursue charges as the incident occurred over six years ago, and as a medical assessment ordered by the court found the defendant incompetent to stand trial. 

The court report further cites the letter as informing that Police are now working with the island's council to provide the necessary treatment to the defendant. 

With this, the three judges hearing the case, Judge Mohamed Niyaz, Judge Abdul Maaniu Hussain and Judge Abdulla Jameel Moosa ruled unanimously to cancel the charge sheet.