A suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Naeema Moosa, has been remanded in police custody pending the outcome of the trial.

Arrested in connection with the murder so far are two 21-year-old Maldivian men and a 23-year-old Maldivian man identified as Ahuzam Abdul Shakoor.

One out of the two 21-year-olds have been remanded pending the outcome of the trial. The other 21-year-old, arrested from the congested capital, Malé City, was slapped with a 30-day remand period.

Arrested from Manadhoo island, the 23-year-old man was remanded for a period of 14 days as he was arrested in possession of narcotics.

However, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed that the man has been in policy custody since June 8, in connection with Naeema’s murder.

He was remanded for a five-day period in connection with the murder.

The investigation into Naeema’s death is still proceeding, with police having made significant progress in the investigation so far.

The police institution revealed that they had collected some evidence in connection with the case after one of the accused confessed to the crime, and based on the information provided by him.

As such, police confiscated two sharp weapons suspected to have been used to kill the elderly woman, from the scene of the attack.

Officers recovered the items from a pit where the items were buried after they were set on fire.

The investigation in the case is being conducted as a homicide investigation as authorities have identified alleged loopholes in Naeema’s death. A total of three suspects remain in police custody in connection with the case.

DNA samples of some individuals who lived near the woman’s house were also collected in connection with the case, with officers having collected DNA samples from those who had gone looking for Naeema in her house as well.

The Manadhoo woman’s family filed a report at the police station on April 7 after not having heard from her for two days. She is to have been living alone in the house which is currently under police watch.

Naeema was found dead inside her room after sundown the same day. Her body was discovered by officers who broke down the door to her room. The elderly woman’s body was reportedly found with injuries.

The police institution declared that there were suspicions and red flags surrounding the woman’s death, which has been ruled as a homicide. After the forensic pathologist ruled out the need for an autopsy examination after collecting samples from the victim’s body, Naeema’s body was handed over to her family and buried the very next day.

The police had also monitored those traveling to and from the island, having declared that no one would be allowed to exit or enter the island without authorization as part of the operation.

The woman was employed by the island council as a sweeper, to clean the island and she is to have been absent for work for two days, when she was reported missing. According to the island council, Naeema was a good worker and had excellent attendance and performance records.

The murder took the country by storm, especially as the island has never reported such a heinous crime.