Police have arrested three suspects in connection to the brutal murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed and disappearance of journalist Ahmed Rilwan.
According to a press release by the police on Sunday, the three men were arrested in suspicion of plotting and carrying out various crimes in connection to the disappearance and death of Rilwan and Yameen. They are accused of committing acts of terrorism.
Police said they were arrested in connection with the investigation by the Presidential Commission on Death and Disappearances.
The three individuals arrested were Ahmed Ismail, 39, Ismail Abdu-Raheem, 30, and Ahmed Muaz, 40. All three of them are from Male'.
The three were arrested in connection with the progress made by the Commission on Deaths and Disappearances in its investigation with foreign experts. The commission's report on Rilwan's murder has previously made several serious allegations allegations against Ismail Abdu-Rahman.
He has been accused of stalking Rilwan prior to his disappearance. His then residence, Maafannu Lagoon View, had been searched in connection to this case as well.
A report released by the commission on Rilwan's disappearance alleges that Ismail Abu-Rahman belongs to an extremist jihadist group operating near the Furugan Mosque. The report said Rilwan was abducted over a religious disagreement.
Investigative authorities have revealed that he was trying to take part in the war in Syria. He was deported after being arrested by Turkish security forces for attempting to cross the Turkish border illegally in 2015. He has also been charged in the case. However, the charges were dismissed after the government failed to obtain documentation from the Turkish government.
Ahmed Ismail has a record of being involved with drugs, and is accused of sending people to fight in Pakistan and Syria, according to the police.
Muaz was arrested in 2014 in connection with the murders of Rilwan and Yameen. He was arrested at the time on charges of stealing CCTV cameras from Minivan News' office, Rilwan's place of employment. He was released by the Criminal Court.
Rilwan was last seen entering the ferry terminal to Hulhumale’ prior to being abducted in August 2014. He was threatened with a knife and forced into a car in front of his apartment in Hulhumale'.
The Presidential Commission had previously stated that Rilwan was murdered by religious extremists after he was abducted. Even though three people had been previously arrested in connection to this case, no one has been charged in the case so far.
A group of people have been arrested and charged with terrorism over Rilwan's abduction in Hulhumale'. They are Alif Rauf from Male', Mohamed Nooradheen from Gaafu Alifu Vaadhoo, Mohamed Suaidh from Seenu Hulhudhoo. Alif and Nooradheen were released after they were arrested. Suaidh, once released, is rumoured to have flown to Syria to fight in the conflict, where he had died. No official authority had confirmed this. However, his family has informed the Criminal Court that he had passed away.
Six people were brought to court over the charge of attacking a man with a sharp object and killing him, over the death of Yameen. They are Ismail Haisham Rasheed, Ahmed Zihaan, Hassan Shifaz, and Ismail Rasheed from Male', Mohamed Dhifran from Gaafu Dhaalu Gadhoo, and Hussain Ziyad from Meemu Kolhufushi.
He was attacked in April 2017.
Only Haisham and Zihan were found guilty. The others charged were not been convicted.
Sign In
