Five Suspects Released After Alleged Hulhumalé Hostage Incident

All five individuals arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping and extortion of a man in Hulhumalé have been released from remand.

The incident occurred on 11 November, when police received a complaint about a Maldivian man being held hostage in a car on Orchidmaa Hingun. Authorities stated that the victim had been subjected to torture, and the perpetrators had reportedly contacted his family to demand money.

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The first arrest in the case was Tholal Moosa, registered number 9022, followed by Husham Ibrahim and Adam Shareef, both from the same permanent address in Haa Dhaalu Kumundhoo. Two others, Hussain Haikal Niyaz from Malé City and Ahmed Rishfan from Hulhumalé, were also detained.

The Hulhumalé Magistrate Court initially ordered the five suspects to be held in remand for seven days to facilitate the investigation. However, police announced today that the suspects have been released, as their continued detention was deemed unnecessary. The case remains under investigation, the police confirmed.

This incident follows another hostage situation reported on 7 November in a Hulhumalé Phase 2 Hiyaa Flat. In that case, 12 individuals were arrested after police intervened as the suspects allegedly prepared to sever the victim’s finger. Their remand has been extended as investigations continue.

Concerns are growing over the rising frequency of kidnappings and hostage situations in the Maldives. While the police have made arrests, details surrounding the motives and circumstances of these incidents remain limited.