Maldives Police Service (MPS) has stated that Mohamed ‘Pencil’ Mafaz Hussain Saleem had served his sentence for violating the Monicon order.

Mafaz is the prime suspect in the murder of Nadheem 'Nadey' Abdul Raheem. 24-year-old Nadheem was stabbed in the head by a group of masked assailants on July 27, and died two days later while receiving treatment.

Mafaz was arrested on Thursday night for his role in planning and executing the stabbing.

MPS said that Mafaz had already served his one-year jail term for violating the Monicon order and released last April.

Police had made the statement following concerns raised by public over his release, after it was revealed that Mafaz had a Monicon order issued on him.