Leading political activist for Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the largest party in the ruling coalition, and the Senior Executive Manager of state-run Greater Male' Industrial Zone Ltd (GMIZL), Ali Shan (Sato) was suspended from his position on Sunday afternoon.
He was suspended following allegations of involvement in the murder of prominent scholar and former Ungoofaaru MP Dr Afrasheem Ali, as per the investigative report prepared by the Presidential Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances.
GMIZL's Managing Director (MD) Ibrahim Rasheed told local media Mihaaru that there was a delay in handing the letter of suspension to Shan since the report was presented to the authorities during a holiday.
"The reports were sent to the authorities on Friday. Yesterday was also a holiday. The letter of suspension was handed to Shan today when office was opened. He is suspended until the conclusion of the investigation", Ibrahim said.
Shan is a close acquaintance of high profile political figures of the current administration.
Till date, only Hussain Humam Ahmed was found guilty of carrying out the murder, and his death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court. Shan was charged along with Humam but was not convicted.
Shan went free in 2016 and his case was never appealed afterwards.
Former Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer previously claimed that Maldives Police Service possessed enough evidence proving Shan's involvement in Afrasheem's murder.
During former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration, Shan was also tagged with an ankle monitor under the MoniCon order.
According to the commission's report, a minor was involved in carrying out the murder along with Shan and Humam. The report stated the possibility of other suspects that could not be investigated since they are overseas.
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