Rilwan’s case: DDCom to present investigative report to the president today

Commission on Disappearances and Deaths (DDCom) is scheduled to present their findings regarding its investigation into the disappearance and death of Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, a journalist who worked for Minivan News (later renamed Maldives Independent), in 2014, to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Thursday.

Sun has learned that the report will be presented to President Solih this evening, after the president returns to Male’ City from his official visit to Qatar.

Rilwan, 28, a journalist at Maldives Independent, was last seen on August 8, 2014. He is believed to have been abducted and murdered.   

He was last seen boarding a ferry to suburban Hulhumale’ wearing a black shirt and pants and carrying a backpack.   

No trace of him has been found since. His body was never recovered.

Preliminary investigative findings by DDCom show Rilwan was abducted and murdered. He was forced into a car while on his way to his apartment in Hulhumale’, forced on a boat registered to AA. Ukulhas, and killed and thrown overboard.   

DDCom links the case with a group of Maldivian extremists affiliated with an international terrorist organization. 

The state charged three individuals with terrorism regarding the case. They are Ahmed Alif Rauf, H. Hilton, Male’ City; Mohamed Suwaidh, Athireege, S. Hulhudhoo and Mohamed Nooradheen, Karankaage, GDh. Vaadhoo. Some medias have reported that Suwaidh has died in battle at Syria, citing his family as the source of information.

Therefore, the trial was only held for Alif and Nooradheen. However, Criminal Court found them both not guilty.

In June this year, three suspects were arrested on suspicions of involvement in Rilwan’s case and Yameen Rasheed’s case, another murder under investigation by DDCom.

Yameen Rasheed, 29, a blogger and rights activist, was stabbed to death in the stairwell of his residence in Male’ City, M. Spatula, on April 23, 2017.

The three suspects arrested in connection to both these cases are;

• Ahmed Ismail (Ahandhu), 39, Ma. Faagafilage, K. Male’
• Ahmed Muaz (Gut Mua), 40, Dhafthar no. RS8499, K. Male’
• Ismail Abdul Raheem (Isu), 30, M. Lagoon View, K. Male’

Ahandhu is charged with two offenses; conspiring an act of terrorism and aiding in an act of terrorism.

Isu is charged with two counts of aiding in an act of terrorism.

Mua is charged with conspiring an act of terrorism.

Their trial is presently ongoing, however, is held behind closed doors.