Suspect arrested for helping prisoners escape, hide from police

An individual has been arrested on suspicion of assisting Ibrahim Shahum and Fariyash Ahmed hide from the police, after they escaped from Maafushi Prison on Friday night.

This was announced by the police at a press conference at Iskandar Koshi tonight, held to brief the media regarding the recent arrest of the two convicts.

Chief Inspector of Police Abdulla Shatheeh said that several suspects are being investigated for helping Shahum and Fariyash escape from prison and hide from the police, and a 32-year-old individual has been arrested in relation to this investigation.

Police said that although the two prisoners’ escape was discovered on the night of 17 October, investigations have shown that they escaped on the night of 16 October.

Shahum was arrested at around 7:30 p.m. last night (Wednesday night), while Fariyash was arrested at a café near Shaheed Ali Mosque in Henveyru on Tuesday afternoon.

Police said that Fariyash, when found, had shaved his beard and moustache, was wearing a wig, and had prepared to prove to police that he was someone else.

While Shahum had not done much to change his appearance, he had also cut his hair and was wearing different clothes, said police.

Police said that necessary action will be taken against the people who aided the two prisoners.

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