The body of Shiaau Mohamed Saeed has been sent abroad for an autopsy.

Shiaau, 22 and native to Fuvahmulah City, was brutally slain inside an apartment in Sheereen Villa, an apartment building located in Henveiru district of the congested capital Malé City, in the early hours of August 7.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that her body was sent for postmortem examinations on Thursday.

In a press conference held to update the public regarding the gruesome murder that shook the nation, Head of the Police Crime Investigation Department, Superintendent of Police Hassan Shifaau revealed that officers had confiscated the murder weapon at the scene of the crime.

However, further details were not revealed that the case is currently under investigation.

The police institution initially received reports of the homicide from a member of the public, at around 11:28pm on Saturday.

A team of officers had arrived at the scene in less than five minutes.

At the presser, Superintendent Shifaau went on to reveal that Shiaau had never reported of being a victim of domestic violence, in the past.

Arrested in connection with the gruesome manslaughter is Ali Shaahil, who was intoxicated at the time of his arrest from the scene of the crime where no one else was present. Shaahil was escorted to the police vehicle in a hazmat suit. Officers confirmed that the murder took place inside Shaahil’s apartment.

Temporary tests confirmed that Shaahil was in fact under the influence of narcotics. Police did not reveal which narcotics Shaahil had tested positive to.

Going on to note that Shaahil does not have a criminal record, Shifaau revealed that the suspect had not confessed to the brutal crime.

Due to the severity of the crime and following requests by the victim’s family, police refrained from disclosing further details of the extent of her wounds.

At a time video clips circulating on social media have shown that Shiaau’s body was initially transported to the mortuary inside two different body bags, presumably filled with her dismembered body parts, her murder has been dubbed the most gruesome in Maldives’ recent history.

Stressing that some media outlets have been circulating fabrications in connection with the brutal murder, the police institution has urged media houses to refrain from spreading false information, especially in such cases.