Dhangethi murder suspect jailed pending outcome of trial

Police arrested Sha Alom Mia (Salim), 29, a Bangladeshi national, in connection to the murder under court order on October 16.

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, police said that the court ordered for Salim to be jailed pending the outcome of his trial on Monday.

Police said they are currently in the last stage of the investigation, and expect to complete the investigation and submit the case to the Prosecutor General’s office next week.

Police also said they will hold a press conference to share more information regarding the case one the case is submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office. 

Salim had worked as a live-in caregiver for an elderly man by the name of Aadhanbe at Nedhunge - a house close to where Mahmood’s body was found. 

He became the focus of the investigation after a woman reported hearing screams coming from Nedhunge at approximately 09:30 pm on October 13 – the night Mahmood went missing. She looked over the wall, and saw what looked like someone being dragged by their feet.

She alerted one of Aadhanbe’s relatives, who called Salim. Salim told the relative he killed a cat.

Mahmood’s family believes he had approximately MVR 25,000-30,000 in cash in his wallet the night he went missing.

Investigative findings show Mahmood was killed in the house where Salim lived. He lured Mahmood to the house and asked for money. He was killed in the dispute which arose after he refused to give the money.

Salim stabbed Mahmood multiple times. He killed Mahmood and stuffed his head and legs into sacks. He threw the body over the wall and onto the street, and then carried the body and dropped it into the water well located in the abandoned house at the back of his house.

Police have stated that their investigative findings do not indicate additional assailants had been involved in the crime. 

Police also believe Salim to be linked to additional crimes which take taken place in Dhangethi in the past.

The case is under investigation by a homicide investigation team from the Serious and Organized Crime Department, ADh. Atoll police, and a forensic team.