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Three people arrested in connection to the murders of Rilwan and Yameen (R-L): Ahmed Muaz, Ahmed Ismail and Ismail Abdul Raheem Adam.

Second suspect charged over Yameen, Rilwan's murder released

Ahmed Ismail was also granted a conditional release last month.

12 July 2023

Criminal Court on Tuesday granted a conditional release to Ismail Abdul Raheem Adam who is charged in connection with the murders of journalist Ahmed Rilwan and blogger Yameen Rasheed. 

Three people were arrested on June 26, 2022 and charged on September 1, 2022 in connection with the disappearance of Minivan newspaper journalist Rilwan and the murder of blogger Yameen. The three men and the charges against them are:

  • Ahmed Ismail, MA. Faagafilaage/Male, 39 - Aiding and abetting an act of terrorism

  • Ismail Abdul Raheem Adam, M. Lagoon-view, 30 - two counts of aiding and abetting an act of terrorism

  • Ahmed Muaz, Male Dhaftharu No. 8499, 40 - conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism

Although the three men were remanded till the end of their trial, Criminal Court granted a conditional release to Ismail Abdul Raheem Adam on Tuesday.

According to a court official, his whereabouts will be monitored using an electronic ankle tag and he will be barred from going out at certain times of the day. 

Ahmed Ismail was also granted a conditional release last month, and his whereabouts are also being monitored using an electronic ankle tag. 

Ahmed Muaz is the only suspect in custody in the case. 

This is the first case filed with the court by the presidential commission on deaths and disappearances. Delivering justice for the murders of Yameen and Rilwan is a presidential pledge.

Yameen's death:

  • Six people were previously charged in the 2017 brutal murder of blogger Yameen

  • Only two of them were found guilty of the charges.

  • The case was appealed at the High Court in April after the Criminal Court found the other two not guilty.

Rilwan's death:

  • Two people were previously charged with terrorism over the 2014 abduction and murder of journalist Rilwan

  • Both were found not guilty in 2018; the sentence was not appealed.

  • The Commission on Deaths and Disappearances has previously stated that Rilwan was murdered by the Al-Qaeda branch of the Maldives after kidnapping him.

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