3 people charged as accomplices in Addu businessman’s murder

Three people have been formally charged as accomplices in the murder of Ali Abdulla – a businessman from Hithadhoo, Addu City.

The three people are:

1. Maooz Mohamed, Athama Villa, Hithadhoo, Addu City

2. Mubarik Mohamed, Azzaa, Hithadhoo, Addu City

3. Mohamed Shifaz, Nasheedheege, Hithadhoo, Addu City

An official from Prosecutor General’s Office has confirmed that these three men have been charged as accomplices in the murder.

The cases against the three men were filed with Criminal Court on November 20. And the preliminary hearing has been scheduled for this Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the main suspect in the case, Ahmed Ibrahim Didi, 33, from Happy Future in Hithadhoo, Addu City – who is the nephew of the murder victim – has been charged with his murder.

Ali Abdulla was found murdered and thrown in a paddy field on March 2.

Briefing the press regarding the case, Head of Serious and Organized Crime Department of Maldives Police Service, Superintendent of Police, Abdulla Shatheeh said that Ali Abdulla owned a shop in the house Happy Future called “Two Way” and that the prime suspect in the case is believed to have been financially motivated to murder Ali Abdulla.

He said that more than MVR 40,000 in cash was found buried in the home of the suspect.

Shatheeh said that family of Ali Abdulla filed a missing person’s report with the police on March 2, which sparked a community search for him.

An elderly woman found Ali Abdulla’s motorcycle in the foliage, and Ali Abdulla’s body three feet away from the bike.

“When found, half of his body – up from his chest – was inside the paddy field. The other half was on the grass,” said Shatheeh.

Shatheeh said that the body of Ali Abdulla had bruises on his elbows, and strangle marks on his neck. His tongue had been swollen and protruding out of his mouth.

He said that Ali Abdulla’s body showed signs he had been dragged to the paddy field.

Ali Abdulla’s mobile phone, used in his shop to reload phone credit was also found from the area. All of the credit had been transferred to another mobile phone.