Police: Rilwan was seen on ferry to Hulhumale

The police have said that they have been approached by an individual, who said that he spoke with missing Minivan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla on a ferry from Male’ to Hulhumale’ after midnight on the night of his disappearance.

Police said in a statement issued today that it is still not confirmed, however, if anyone saw or spoke to Rilwan after he arrived in Hulhumale’.

There is no reliable evidence to indicate that the incident described by eyewitnesses, that a person was forced into a red car outside Rilwan’s flat on the same night, is connected to his disappearance, said the police.

Police confirmed that the fire at a warehouse owned by a construction company in Hulhumale’ on 15 August was not related to Rilwan’s disappearance.

Police said that several people who were seen on the CCTV footage showing Rilwan buying a ticket to Hulhumale’ at the Hulhumale’ Ferry Terminal in Male’, which was the last that was seen of him, have been summoned and questioned by the police.

Efforts are ongoing by the police to investigate 1,235 hours of CCTV footage collected from 157 cameras from 79 locations. Rilwan was last seen at the Hulhumale’ Ferry Terminal at 12:45 a.m. on 8 August.

Police have also conducted dives of 521 minutes in total, and checked 267,197.5 sq m in the sea near Hulhumale’.

Areas searched by the police as part of this operation include nine houses in Male’,139 houses, warehouses and garages in Hulhumale’, guest houses in several islands, and 84 vehicles.

Police have also obtained statements from 128 people, and questioned 387 people as part of these efforts.

Police have urged anyone who has seen Rilwan at the Ferry Terminal or in Hulhumale’, to step forward and contact the police on 3322111, 119, or 9911099.