Businessman believed to have been strangled, bruises visible on neck

Businessman Abdulla Ali – who was found murdered in a swamp in Hithadhoo on Wednesday – usually sleeps in his shop – Two Wave – a convenience store popular in the neighborhood.

People sometimes go to shop there late at night as he stays there.

Ali returns back to him home at dawn. It is he who drops off his daughter to school in the morning.

It was therefore not surprising that Ali’s wife grew worried when he did not return home Wednesday morning. Ali was also looked for by the people from the house his shop is located in, when they found the shop robbed of all money.

It was Ali’s aunt – who lives in the house the shop is located in – who discovered the robbery when she went there in the morning as per usual with the short-eats she sells there.

Ali’s aunt found the door of the shop unlocked, and the cash drawer empty and thrown on a chair. It is being said that business had been very profitable Tuesday night.

After the robbery and the disappearance of Ali was reported to police, a forensic team went to the shop and analyzed the crime scene and informed the family of the seriousness of the situation.

This was reported to “Sun” by Ali’s aunt’s son, his cousin Ahmed Ibrahim Didi.

He said that there were signs of struggle where Ali’s motorcycle was found parked – near the swamp where his body was discovered.

Ahmed said that it was an isolated area, from where no one living in the populated area would hear any screams. And that he believed Ali was murdered there.

After observing Ali’s body, Ahmed said that there was bruising around his neck, and that his tongue had been hanging out from his mouth. Ahmed said that he believed Ali had been strangled using something.

“His two hands were gripped tight. We cannot open his hands even now. It looks like it could have happened if he had been strangled using hands or a rope or something,” said Ahmed.

Addu City Mayor, Abdulla Sodiq (Soabe) told “Sun” that police patrolling the area had said that Ali had been seen in the shop as late as 3 am, Tuesday night.

Police media official said that the case was being taken very seriously. And that a team from Serious and Organized Crime Department was preparing to go to Addu to investigate the case.

Speaking of Ali, Soabe noted that he had been a kind-hearted and friendly man.

"He was working to slowly expand his business day by day. His shop was very popular in the neighborhood because of his warm personality. The shop is well-known among frequent visitors to Hithadhoo,” said Soabe.