Police released the man from Feydhoo, Addu Atoll, who was arrested late Tuesday during an operation carried out as part of the presidential Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances' probe into the disappearance of journalist Ahmed Rilwan.
Police raided the residence and textile shop of Ahmed Agleel (Kid) during the operation on Tuesday night. Agleel was taken under the custody of Gan Police Station around 2000 hrs. According to local media, he was released three hours later after the police took his statement, and confiscated his mobile phone and laptop.
Agleel is implicated in the disappearance of Rilwan, as per the draft report compiled by the commission following its investigation. According to the report, Agleel had arranged for the marine vessel aboard which Rilwan was taken after he was abducted from reclaimed suburb Hulhumale'.
The report stated that evidence indicated the journalist was decapitated aboard the vessel, which is owned by Mohamed Rashid of Ukulhas, Alif Alif Atoll.
Agleel refuted the allegations levied against him as "baseless", following the release of the report.
In a Facebook status he posted on September 4, Agleel stated that he had nothing to hide and was "ready to face the authorities anytime they ask".
Over five years after Rilwan went missing on August 8, 2014, the presidential commission released its draft report on its findings, which stated that evidence strongly indicated that Rilwan was murdered by a local extremist group affiliated with al-Qaeda.
The police and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) launched special operations on Tuesday as part of the commission's probes.
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