A Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) officer has been arrested in connection with the murder of MP and religious scholar Dr Afrasheem Ali.
Although police and MNDF did not initially confirm the arrest, local media confirmed the report through the defence lawyers of the MNDF officer arrested.
Police Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef told Minivan News that police policy when providing information about Dr Afrasheem’s death was to keep all information until a next press briefing.
The MNDF has meanwhile confirmed that a MNDF officer was arrested earlier last week.
The MNDF told the local press that it was not the military’s policy to provide information on the charges, but said it would cooperate with the police in their investigation.
Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz has claimed that the murder of MP for Ungoofaaru constituency Dr Afrasheem Ali was a well-planned murder and insisted it was politically motivated.
The Commissioner alleged that the assassins were offered MVR 4 million (US$260,000).
In a presentation shown during a press conference this week, Riyaz claimed that altogether 11 suspects were arrested with three of them later released.
He said that 200 items were collected as forensic and digital evidence.
“Over 500 hours of CCTV footage have been analysed, more than 100 people have been interviewed and about 13,000 phone call recordings have been analysed out of which 12,000 were from one single tower,” Riyaz said.
Afrasheem was killed on October 1. His wife discovered the body lying on the staircase of their home.
Dr Afrasheem was elected to parliament in 2009 as a member of the then-opposition Dhivehi Rayithunge Party (DRP). Following the opposition’s split, Afrasheem sided with the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and faded into the political background.
Widely considered an Islamic moderate, Dr Afrasheem took outspoken and controversial positions on issues such as the permissibility of playing music, and praying next to the deceased.
(0)Dislikes
(0)Related Posts
Police officers testify that Afrasheem murder suspect sent text asking for money- Trial begins of second suspect arrested over murder of MP Dr Afrasheem Ali
- Criminal Court extends detention of second suspect in Afrasheem murder case
- Police send names of two suspects in Afrasheem murder case to PG’s Office
- Court grants opportunity to appoint lawyers in murder of 16-year old
- Minor arrested in connection with July murder of 31 year-old man
This MNDF chap is only a scape goat!
Islam itself is moderate. There are no part muslims or part time muslims. You are either in or out. As for the police, I commend them for the fantastic effort they are putting in.
According to my intelligence, There is big plan funded by Saudi extremist in cooperation with Maldivian Islamic extremist organization Salaf to protect extremist Islamism in Maldives and they have funded 250,000.00 US$ for this project, they have recruited extremist from MNDF and police to carry out assassination of such people who are a threat to extremism in Maldives.
The biggest threat to Maldives stability is MNDF and police, The salaf and Adalath has infiltrated to this two organization and have started to radicalize this uncivilized two institutions. Riyaaz and Nazim are on their payroll and these two guys are hardcore Wahhabies disguised to be normal people. Maldives needs immediate action to overhaul the police and defense force before it is too late. Waheed is hijacked by them with threats and the whole system is under their control.
@intelligence on Fri, 7th Dec 2012 4:33 PM
Who is Saudi Extremist?? Given the developing trends in Maldives, one can easily conclude that extremism is to be blamed on to DEMOCRACY mongers. Those hooligan-like guys go very much in extremism in the name DEMOCRACY. Those include, extremism in alchol,abuse of happy drugs ,vandalism,pedophilia and so forth-the list goes on.
@a. ahmed.
The Saudis are to blame for all that too.
The 'haabees' love their alchol, and their gangs depend on heroin as a funding source, and their militias vandalize anything superior to themselves, and their so-called 'haabee' religion allows pedophilia.
What have you got to say for yourself?
Maybe this MNDF officer leaked a certain video of a civilian getting killed that had Nazim frothing at the mouth in anger?
@Ahmed Ali.
Like most of the entire populace of the world today, I am very much under pressure from the DEMOCRACY mongers who are representatives of " NEW WORLD ORDER PLC " which surfaced from the Bavarian MASONIC LODGES of 17th century, whose treacherous plotters could be traced back to KINGDOM of KHAZARIA.
extremist in Maldives are Anni and few of his associates .
Extremism does only apply to Islam but can also apply to politics also.
Anni is political extremist who are ruining this country for his personal gain.
These Baghee police cannot control crime in an area less than 2 sq. miles. Probably the MNDF guy is the scapegoat to hide the real murderers.
Have you seen Baghee Riyaz press briefing, he was nervous and his voice was shaky.
Riyaz did not claim that 11 was arrested. It does not have to be a claim. They were arrested!
to the writer . .
he is not MNDF Office. He is Corpral,
so better know things better b4 writing something.
It is said that this particular night 2 Special Operations Groups were out on the streets of Male', engaged in 2 locations. Wonder WHY?
@hasan, FYI,
In the armed forces, a corporal is a non commissioned officer. So no worry!