Escaped prisoners may have changed appearance, warn police

The police have warned the public that the two dangerous convicts, Ibrahim Shahum and Fariyash Ahmed, who were serving life sentences and escaped from Maafushi prison on Friday night, may have altered their appearance.

Police published the latest photos in their records of Shahum and Fariyash, and said that investigations thus far have shown that these two convicts have, in the past, changed their appearance and lived in the community in hiding from the police.

Shahum and Fariyash were serving 25-year sentences after being convicted of terrorism and murder respectively.

As part of their search operation, police started monitoring ferry terminals and searching vehicles yesterday. The police in collaboration with Maldives Correctional Service have searched Maafushi, Guraidhoo, Gulhi, and Himmafushi; and several locations in Male’, include residential buildings under court warrants. Several boats have also been searched with the assistance of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).