Thinadhoo Magistrate Court in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll on Saturday remanded Irufan Rushdhee, an individual suspected in the 2016 murder case of 14-year-old Fathir Mohamed, for a period of 15 days.
Irufan was arrested with three others aboard a speedboat 12 miles off the shore of Kaadehdhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. The group reportedly departed from Thinadhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll and were fishing when their speedboat, 'Blue Whale', ran out of petrol.
Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF)'s Coast Guard was informed of the situation at approximately 0100 hrs. Maldives Police Service became aware of Irufan's presence on the vessel when they received a list of passengers. MNDF subsequently handed over the suspect to the Police.
Police revealed that the lower court remanded the other three aboard the vessel for a period of 15 days as well.
Irufan was found less than 24hrs after the Presidential Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances put out a notice for his arrest.
Police launched a manhunt for Irufan on June 2016 but he successfully avoided detection by the authorities for the last three years.
Although Maldives Immigration had stated that Irufan left the country in 2015, the Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances revealed that CCTV footage confirmed his participation in the string of violent attacks in June 2016.
Fathir Mohamed was stabbed in the back during an altercation between two gangs and succumbed to his wounds while undergoing medical treatment. The 14-year-old was killed in retribution for the murder of Ahmed Irushan who was stabbed in the neck earlier the same day.
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