Probe fails to locate vessel where Rilwan was killed
Most of what was said at the press conference has already been revealed by the Death Commission in the past.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
A presidential commission, which investigated the murder of journalist Ahmed Rilwan, has revealed that efforts were made to find the fishing vessel where Rilwan was allegedly murdered, but it could not be found.
The Death Commission has submitted its report to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Thursday, concluding the investigation into Rilwan’s abduction, who went missing in August 2014. Following this, the commission held a press conference at the President's Office on the same day.
After the conclusion of the two-hour-long press conference, commission member Misbah Mohamed told reporters that the commission had made several efforts to locate the boat. He, however, said the vessel has not been "identified" so far.
"We located some of the boats and searched them. But the problem was that the boats were modified and repaired," he said.
Misbah said one of the biggest challenges faced by the commission's investigation was that the murder took place a long time. That's why it was difficult to find the vessel directly, he said.
"Even if the fishing vessel is identified, it will be challenging to get more evidence from it as the case has taken a long time," he said.
Here are some important points highlighted by the Commission at the press conference:
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Rilwan was abducted in a red car and taken nto the fishing vessel via a dinghy, where he was murdered
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Rilwan was read his Islamic testmony (Shahada) before slitting his throat and then his body was dumped in the sea
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Six of those on board the vessel flew to Syria; there were reports that they had been killed, but that is not the case
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Mohamed Munaz, the accused in the case, left for Syria with the help of then President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom
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Munaz left after meeting Yameen and telling him what had happened to Rilwan, narrating the story without his own involvement
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More people may be prosecuted in the case
Most of what was said at the press conference has already been revealed by the Death Commission in the past.
The commission has decided not to release the probe report this time as three persons are already facing trial in Rilwan's case and action still needs to be taken against others.
