25 days since Thasleem disappeared without a trace; search continues

Authorities continue to search for a man who disappeared without a trace 25 days back, after travelling to a sandbank in K. Atoll with a group of friends.

Thasleem Mohamed, 43, M. Asaree Handhaan, K. Male’, had gone to a sandbank located to the south of Huvafen Fushi, a resort in K. Atoll on August 29. He was reported missing to the police at around 01:20 pm on August 30.

A police spokesperson told Sun on Wednesday that authorities continue to search for Thasleem.

Dive teams continue to comb the area as we speak, added the spokesperson.

According to the police, Thasleem departed for the sandbank with a group of 26 other people, including two children, on August 29.

The trip was organized to celebrate a birthday and an engagement. The police found that Thasleem was friends with the trip’s organizers, and went there to make the backdrop and do lighting and electrical works.

There was also another group of 12 people there at the sandbank.

He was last seen between 07:45 am and 09:00 am on August 30.

Those who travelled with Thasleem told the police that he had told them he wished to return to Male’. They discovered him missing when they looked for him to tell him to get on a speedboat back to Male’, which departed for the capital between 10:00 am and 11:00 am that day. They then contacted his family to check if he had returned to Male’ on another boat.

They began searching for him when his family said he had not returned.

Searches by the authorities of the sandbank and over one million square meters of water surrounding it came up empty.

The police said they questioned the people Thasleem travelled with, as well as the other group that was at the sandbank at the time. The police also searched two speedboats, and have begun forensic analysis of Thasleem’s phone and laptop.

Earlier this month, the police said they had also requested an Interpol yellow notice to locate Thasleem. However, no such notice has been issued, as of yet.

The police had said they were keeping the family updated regarding any developments to the case.

Male’-born Thasleem had been living in Hulhumale’ Phase I. He is an employee of the Male' City Council.