Police: No evidence of foul play in Zakiyya’s death

The police said on Tuesday that the investigation has not uncovered any evidence of foul play in the death of a middle-aged woman from N. Holhudhoo who was found dead in her home in September with deep neck wounds.

Zakiyya Moosa, 50, was found dead on the ground inside the storeroom of her home New Life on the morning of September 10, with a knife beside her body. Some in Holhudhoo believe she was killed, and held a rally last urging the police to speed up the investigation and provide closure to the grieving family.

In a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Head of Death and Homicide Investigation Unit, Chief Inspector of Police Mohamed Samih said that the forensic pathologist who examined Zakiyya’s body in Male’ ruled that she died from the wounds to her neck.

But he said the police found no evidence of foul play.

“I want to note that the investigative findings so far have not uncovered any evidence indicating that the wounds she sustained or that her death was the result of the actions of another individual or that it involves anyone else,” said Samih.

According to Samih, Zakiyya was found with multiple knife-wounds to her neck; three deep wounds in the right side, two deep wounds in the left, and a shallower one in the middle.

But he stressed that the investigation remains open.

Samih said that certain aspects of the investigation will take time, and that the police are also consulting with international experts in the case.

A special investigative team had been deployed to Holhudhoo from the capital on September 10, and her body was transported to Male’ for forensic analysis later that night. Her body was transported back to Holhudhoo and buried on September 12.

Many had questioned the reason why the police did not conduct an autopsy.

However, Samih told reporters that that the autopsy had not been necessary as the forensic pathologist had already established that Zakiyya had died of the wounds to her neck. He said that the autopsy would not have uncovered any new information.

Zakiyya’s body was discovered by street sweepers, who alerted the family and the police.

Many in Holhudhoo are unable to believe she could have killed herself in such a violent manner. The island community held a rally on November 25, expressing concern over the delay in the police investigation.

They urged the police to expedite justice in the case, and provide closure to the bereaved family.

Zakiyya is survived by her husband, two sons and one grandchild.