Usham accuses Solih of lying about who released suspects in the Rilwan disappearance case

Attorney General Ahmed Usham said Saturday that former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made an untrue claim at Friday evening’s joint press conference when he claimed that suspects arrested in the disappearance of former journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla were released by the current government.

At the joint press conference held by former presidents Solih, Mohamed Nasheed and Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Solih said that after an in‑depth investigation into Rilwan’s disappearance, three suspects had been detained pending trial.

“When this government came to power, they released them and they are now in high positions in the government,” Solih said.

Solih added that justice has still not been delivered in Rilwan’s case, and urged the government to continue efforts to ensure accountability.

In a post on X, Attorney General Usham rejected Solih’s remarks, saying the claim that the current administration released the suspects was a lie.

ނޫސްވެރިޔާ ރިލްވާންގެ މައްސަލާގައި ތުހުމަތު ކުރެވޭ ފަރާތްތައް ބަންދުން ދޫކޮށްލާފައިވަނީ މިސަރުކާރުންކަމަށް ވިދާޅުވެ ރައީސް ސޯލިހު ރޭގަ ދެއްކެވި ވާހަކަފުޅަކީ ކަނޑައެޅިގެން ހެއްދެވި އިތުރުފުޅެއް.

އެފަރާތްތައް ބަންދުން ދޫކޮށްލާފައިވަނީ 2023 ވަނަ އަހަރު އިންތިހާބުގެ ދުވަސްވަރު.… pic.twitter.com/TsA5zcYp6T

— Ahmed Usham (@a_usham) May 16, 2026

“They were released during the 2023 election period. The last detainee was released on 19 September 2023. It is unfortunate that even in such obvious matters, he continues to make untrue statements to mislead the public,” Usham wrote.

Ismail Abdul Raheem (Isu), Ahmed Ismail (Buru Ahandhu) and Ahmed Muaz (Gut Mua) were arrested on 26 June 2022 in connection with Rilwan’s disappearance.

The three were arrested under court orders in relation to the kidnapping and murder of Rilwan, as well as the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed.

However, all three were later acquitted and released. Ahandhu was released on 22 June 2023, Isu was released on 12 July the same year, and Gut Mua was released on 19 September 2023 during the presidential election period.

According to the Presidential Commission’s report, Rilwan was abducted near his apartment, forced into a car, taken to a dinghy, beheaded, and his body disposed of at sea on the night of 8 August 2014.