Police have arrested five expatriates in Haa Alif atoll Ihavandhoo island in connection to the murder of a local man, who was found dead in the island’s ice plant on Friday.
Ismail Umar, 54, of Lhaviyani atoll Hinnavaru island, had worked as a mechanic and the in-charge of the Ihavandhoo ice plant. Police had gone in search of him after his associates failed to contact him long after the plant’s opening hours. He was found dead inside the ice plant with multiple wounds.
Police first arrested a Bangladeshi national, who worked at the ice plant, over Ismail Umar’s murder. The victim’s friends and associates suspected the expat’s connection to his death as the expat had gone “missing” three days before Ismail’s death. Ismail Umar and his associates had been searching for the Bangladeshi national, and had believed that he fled to Dhidhdhoo island to seek a better job.
However, Ihavandhoo residents received word that the missing expat took a dinghy to Hoarafushi island in the early hours of Friday and suspected that he was connected to Ismail Umar’s death. Police found and arrested the expat Friday evening.
Police have yet to reveal the nationalities of the other four expatriate workers arrested in the case. However, they are believed to be close associates of the Bangladeshi national.
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