Zakiyya's death: Police charges being discussed with PG

Charges of negligence (as is the belief of the NIC) against the Police concerning the death of Zakiyya Moosa at N. Holhudhoo are being discussed between the National Integrity Commission (NIC) and the Prosecutor General (PG).

A media official from the PG office has stated that allegations of negligence on the part of the Police have been claimed by the NIC, concerning the Zakiyya, who was found dead on 10th September 2024 at around 10am. The case is currently in the process of deciding the approach to prosecution, whether it's duty prosecution or otherwise, said the PG media official.

"This is quite a serious issue. We will be taking the issue of prosecution [against the Police] very seriously," said the PG media official.

NIC’s investigation into Zakiyya’s death includes allegations of inappropriate conduct in the performance of official duties, obstruction of justice, obstruction of state institutions and misuse of the deceased.

NIC filed the case for duty prosecution last Thursday.

Zakiyya ,50 was found dead near the storage area of her kitchen.

Some family members and many people in Holhudhoo alleging that she did not commit suicide and that foul play was involved. The people who saw her body stated her head had almost been decapitated.

While referring to IGMH doctors in a news conference last year December, Police Chief Inspector Mohamed Samih said that Zakiyya had deep wounds on her neck, three deep wounds on the right side and two deep wounds on the left side.

A lot of people took issue with the fact that she was buried without an autopsy being conducted, with a virtual autopsy being conducted instead. The virtual autopsy report stated that she had succumbed to self-inflicted wounds.

A virtual autopsy uses tests such as CT scans and MRIs, photographs and videos of the body and the crime scene to determine the cause of death. An autopsy such as this also identifies various changes in the body and finds out the cause of the injuries.

The autopsy report showed that the wounds on both sides of the neck had severed nerves, but there was no depth of any wounds that close to the point of impact on the bone. The report also provided medical explanation for key questions, such as why the wounds did not cause blood to bubble under pressure and how they might have been inflicted.

During his visit to Noonu Atoll, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu ensured Zakiyya's family and some island residents that he would do everything he can to ensure justice is served.