Sulaiman Lebbe Mohamed Yoosuf Riyas vs The Hon. Attorney-General – CA NO. 196/2010-2014

In the case between Sulaiman Lebbe Mohamed Yoosuf Riyas (Accused-Appellant) and The Hon. Attorney-General (Respondent), the court addressed whether the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused-appellant unlawfully possessed an automatic firearm under Section 22(3) of the Firearms Ordinance, as amended. The court held that the prosecution failed to establish its case due to significant inconsistencies and contradictions in the evidence, particularly relating to the chain of custody and identification of the firearm and ammunition. The principle that an accused is entitled to the benefit of the doubt where reasonable doubt exists in the prosecution’s case was reaffirmed. The decision relied on standards governing the integrity of evidence and evidentiary continuity in crim