Mahmood’s Murder: Arrested migrant worker shifted to Mahibadhoo

Saalim, the migrant worker who was arrested under suspicion of the murder of local businessman – Mahmood Aboobakuru – at ADh. Dhangethi, has been shifted to ADh. Mahibadhoo.

Mahmood Aboobakuru, 57, was found murdered and thrown into a water well in an abandoned house in Dhangethi on Thursday afternoon, hours after he was reported missing. 

A Mahibadhoo resident who spoke to Sun had confirmed that Saalim had been transported to Mahibadhoo sometime tonight.

Saalim was arrested yesterday, after the Police conducted a search at Nedhunge - where he works as a live-in caregiver for an elderly man. Nedhunge is located behind Bilehge, the abandoned house at which Mahmood’s body was found. There apart by a distance of approximately 100 meters.

A Dhangethi resident who spoke to Sun said the Police searched Saalim's residence in response to multiple reports of a suspicious noise being heard from the house on the night Mahmood disappeared.

When presented before the Court – Saalim was remanded in police custody for 15 days, as the investigation against him continues.

A Dhangethi resident had told Sun that the Police had taken Saalim to multiple locations today prior to his transfer to Mahibadhoo – including Nedhunge and Bilehge – where he was made to reenact his actions.

Saalim is the first arrest the Police have made in connection to Mahmood’s murder – however, the Police have yet to reveal his connection to the murder.

Mahmood was found murdered during a search for him – after having been declared missing. He was last seen alive on Wednesday night. Dhangethi residents commenced an island-wide search at 10:00 am on Thursday morning. His body was discovered during the search at around 15:15 in the afternoon – inside a water well at an abandoned house; bound and stuffed inside a sack.

The Police have yet to confirm the exact cause of death. However, some individuals who saw his body reports seeing repeated blows to his head and neck with a sharp object.

Mahmood is an entrepreneur involved in the business of staple foods and gas, in addition to being an owner of a café and a boat. 

Dhangethi residents claim he carried around large amounts of cash always due to his businesses – alleging him to have been murdered in a robbery gone wrong.

Shortly after he was found murdered, residents took the law into their own hands to hand over two men who they believed to the murderers to the police. Subsequently, the two men were granted police protection.

Later, a woman who is linked to the two individuals was also granted police protection.

Although they were not under arrest initially – the Police later on confirmed that they were arrested in connection to a separate case.

Following this, the three were escorted out of Dhangethi on Friday – under protective custody of the Police. No evidence has been uncovered linking the three to Mahmood’s murder as of yet.