Accused gets lifer in Abdul Kareem murder

KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode Additional Sessions Court today sentenced the prime accused in the sensational Abdul Kareem murder case to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5 lakhs.

The court upheld the charges leveled by the prosecution against the accused Muhammed Jamsheer and found him guilty of the offence.

Abdul Kareem was murdered and burnt following a dispute over a real estate deal on May 15, 2009.

Abdul Kareem who was a native of Mukkam and Muhammed Jamsheer, a native of Vellimadukunnu, were partners in real estate deals.

Both later parted ways after having disputes over sharing the money they had earned through the deals.

According to the prosecution, Jamsheer invited Kareem to a private building at Palayam and then suffocated him.

When Kareem fell unconscious, he was put inside a car and taken to a private estate in Koduvally. Jamsheer then dumped him in a drain, poured petrol on him and lit him when he was still alive.

The main evidence produced by the prosecution against Jamsheer was that the victim had bitten the accused when he was being suffocated. Kozhikode Dental College former principal Dr. Ipe Varghese had confirmed, through scientific examination, that the bite marks on the hands of the accused were caused by Kareem.

The defence lawyers had argued that Ipe Varghese was abroad when the incident happened but the court dismissed their argument and took this as crucial evidence to convict the accused. The fine levied against the accused has to be handed over to the widow of Kareem, the court ordered.