Police operation continues, Big Man restaurant searched

A massive operation is underway in the case of murdered journalist Ahmed Rilwan that has seen some businesses in addition to several properties searched by police.

Police are currently searching the businesses named in the report by the Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearances (DDCOM). These businesses were not named in the summary of the report made public. 

Police searched the well known Big Man restaurant in Chaandhanee Magu where some items were confiscated. Some other businesses will also be searched by police later today, according to sources.

It has been noticed that Ali Shiyam from Vaalee Villa, who has been accused of funding terrorism has shares invested in the Big Man restaurant. Police also searched the "Fothi Garage" clothing shop in Addu city which is owned by Ahmed Agleel (Kidoo) who was also named in the report.

Commission on Disappearances and Deaths announced in its report that it had evidence Rilwan was abducted from Hulhumale’ where he resided, forced into a car, put on board a dinghy boat, transferred to another vessel, beheaded, and his body thrown overboard on August 8, 2014. The Commission also stated that an affiliate of Al Qaeda operating in the Maldives was behind Rilwan's murder.

Further information showed that two extremist groups were operating in the Maldives. One group had pledged allegiance to Islamic State while the other was affiliated with the Al Qaeda. Both of these groups were funded by legitimately run businesses in the country, according to the report. Although no one has been arrested so far in the operations by police, a total of nice locations from Male' city and Addu city have been searched so far.