Man involved in oil attack on Mandhy released from police custody

The man arrested from Male’ in March for following an activist from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on a motorcycle and throwing engine oil on her has been released from police custody.

Mariyam 'Mandhy' Zubair, who works in an administrative role at the MDP office, and is the mother of a prominent opposition lawmaker, was attacked with oil by two individuals who followed her as she drove her motorcycle home on early March 17.

Ahmed Rishmah, 20, Sunlight Villa, GA. Dhaandhoo, was arrested in the case over a week later on March 27. The Criminal Court had remanded him into custody of the police for 15 days the next day.

He was brought before a judge again on Saturday for an extension to his remand.

The court granted him conditional release.

In making the decision, the court cited that despite the evidence in the case, the suspicion against him is of a minor criminal offense, and he has already spent 15 days in detention.

The court also cited Rishmah’s assurance that he will cooperate with the police investigation.

The initial detention order issued by the Criminal Court back in March revealed Rishmah had been the person driving the motorcycle, and that he identified the person who had been in the backseat and threw oil on Mandhy.

However, the police have yet to arrest the second person involved in the attack – something that Mandhy’s lawmaker son, South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem criticized on Sunday.

In a post on X, Meekail said indicated he wasn’t surprised by Rishmah’s release.

He also alleged that the police were aware of the identity of the second person involved in the attack, but haven’t made an arrest due to pressure “directly from the presidential palace.”

The attack on Mandhy came after she drew criticism for suggesting during a rally in March that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu decided to ban vaping in Maldives last year because his 16-year-old son got caught vaping.

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed filed a lawsuit against Mandhy over the remarks, accusing her of endangering her son’s safety, causing him mental distress, and harming his studies and future prospects.

Mandhy was also reportedly brought in for questioning by the police for an investigation into possible violations of the Freedom of Assembly Act.