Home minister and CP head to Holhudhoo as tensions mount over delay in Zakiyya death probe

Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan and Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau are scheduled to travel to N. Holhudhoo on Tuesday, as the residents of the island demand their resignation over allegations of failure to properly investigate the death of a middle-aged woman who was found dead in her home in Holhudhoo in September last year with deep neck wounds.

Zakiyya Moosa, 50, was found dead on the floor inside the storeroom of her home New Life on the morning of September 10, 2024, with a knife beside her body. Some in Holhudhoo believe she was killed, and have repeatedly held rallies urging the police to speed up the investigation and provide closure to the grieving family.

An official from the Homeland Security Ministry told Sun that Ihusan and Shujau are scheduled to arrive in Holhudhoo on Tuesday night.

The official confirmed that the visit is linked to the investigating into Zakiyya’s death, adding that Ihusan and Shujau will “meet with relevant parties and clarify information.”

Residents of Holhudhoo have been holding daily demonstrations outside the island’s police station, demanding an update of the investigation.

Some of the demonstrators have accused the police, Ihusan and Holhudhoo MP Abdul Sattar Mohamed of failing them. They have said that Ihusan should resign, and that the police station in the island should be shut down.

In a press briefing in December, Head of Death and Homicide Investigation Unit, Chief Inspector of Police Mohamed Samih said that the forensic pathologist who examined Zakiyya’s body in Male’ ruled that she died from the wounds to her neck.

But he said the police found no evidence of foul play.

“I want to note that the investigative findings so far have not uncovered any evidence indicating that the wounds she sustained or that her death was the result of the actions of another individual or that it involves anyone else,” said Samih.

According to Samih, Zakiyya was found with multiple knife-wounds to her neck; three deep wounds in the right side, two deep wounds in the left, and a shallower one in the middle.

But he stressed that the investigation remains open.

Samih said that certain aspects of the investigation will take time, and that the police are also consulting with international experts in the case.

A special investigative team had been deployed to Holhudhoo from the capital on September 10, and her body was transported to Male’ for forensic analysis later that night. Her body was transported back to Holhudhoo and buried on September 12.

Many had questioned the reason why the police did not conduct an autopsy.

However, Samih told reporters that that the autopsy had not been necessary as the forensic pathologist had already established that Zakiyya had died of the wounds to her neck. He said that the autopsy would not have uncovered any new information.

Zakiyya’s body was discovered by street sweepers, who alerted the family and the police.

Many in Holhudhoo are unable to believe she could have killed herself in such a violent manner. The island community has repeatedly rallied against the delay in the police investigation.

Earlier this week, the Police Integrity Commission said that they are looking into allegations of police misconduct in the investigation into Zakiyaa’s death.

Zakiyya is survived by her husband, two sons and one grandchild.