Four more individuals have been taken in to custody over the murder of 54-year-old Ismail Umar, whose body was found in the ice plant on Haa Alifu Ihavandhoo.

Police have confirmed that a total of five expatriates have been arrested over Umar's murder; the first one, an expatriate who worked at the plant with him, was arrested on Friday night, hours after his body was discovered.

Umar, native to Lhaviyani atoll's Hinnavaru island, was the in-charge of the ice plant in Ihavandhoo.

While reports indicate that his body had been severely bruised, with a photo circulating around social media, RaajjeMV understands that Umar's body had stab wounds, as well as signs of suffocation.

While the incident was reported to police at around 4:15 pm on Friday, two police forensic teams had arrived in the island. The whole area where the ice plant is located has been closed off by police.

Police have yet to reveal any further information regarding the murder.