Bangladeshi allegedly held hostage in Male'; family contacted demanding money

Two people were arrested last Friday on suspicion of kidnapping a Bangladeshi national and demanding money from his family.

The two people arrested in connection with the case have also been identified as Bangladeshi nationals: Muhammed Azeezul, 37 and Sadheegul Mia, 37. Both individuals have been remanded in custody by the Criminal Court for 15 days.

At Court, the Police said both suspects were residing in the Maldives without a valid visa.

According to the Police, they received a report at approximately 00:40am on Friday night about a Bangladeshi national who was being held hostage and assaulted, while his captors contacted his family, demanding money.

Police detailed they tracked the victim’s phone to locate him and went to the scene.

When the Police arrived at the scene, they saw the victim exiting the SI Guesthouse in the area. Upon questioning, he informed the officers that he had been assaulted and threatened by the suspects. According to the court order, the Police then entered the guesthouse and arrested the suspects on the spot.

The court order states Azeezul, one of the suspects arrested in the case, claimed he was not paid for work he had carried out of the victim despite repeated efforts seeking the payment. He added that the victim was brought to the room for this purpose. Azeezul also admitted to hitting the victim.

Meanwhile, the court order read that the second suspect, Sadheegul claimed he had not kidnapped nor assaulted a person, adding he was in the room where the victim was allegedly held, as it is where he sleeps.

The illegal migration crisis is a pertinent issue in the Maldives. The majority of the illegal migrants are from Bangladesh.