Ismail Umar's murder was an act of revenge, says police
Ismail Umar's body was found in the ice processing unit of HA. Ihavandhoo island on 16th June
Ismail Umar's body was found in the ice processing unit of HA. Ihavandhoo island on 16th June
It was an act of revenge that led to the murder of Ismail Umar, says Maldives Police Service (MPS).
MPs, in a press conference on Thursday, gave a very detailed briefing, via a video presentation, of its investigation into the murder.
Police said that his colleague Suman Miah, who was the primary suspect, had confessed to killing him, to get revenge because of marital problems due to Umar's strict rules.
Umar was in charge of the overall maintenance of the ice plant in HA. Ihavandhoo island, and his body was found in an ice processing unit there.
Police said that Miah had told them that Umar been discriminatory towards him, which includes showing disapproval at his work, locking the ice plant up before he returned (after being out late with friends), and not allowing him to take phone calls from his wife during work hours.
Miah had said that his wife did not take it well when he told her about Umar's disapproval at taking phone calls during work hours, adding that it started causing problems between the two.
"Miah said that this angered him, and that he killed Umar in order to get revenge," said police.
He told the investigation team that he snuck into Umar's room through a window in the bathroom as he was sleeping on the 15th of June, and strangled him with a rope, and that when Umar woke up and started struggling, he "pushed him against the wall and stabbed him numerous times on the neck and chest".
The investigation also showed that the knife used to stab Umar was one used in the ice plant's kitchen, which was discovered later inside a water tank.
Police said that Miah had decided to leave Umar's body at the processing unit after his attempt to dispose Umar's body by throwing it inside a tank there failed.
They said that the blood found inside the plant was from Miah dragged Umar's body, adding that Miah had attempted to clean up the blood.
After murdering Umar, Miah sought the help of a friend to find a transfer out of the island, leaving to Hoarafushi, from where he headed to HDh. Kulhudhuffushi the same night. Police said that after officers stopped and questioned him in Kulhudhuffushi, Miah had attempted to sway them by lying about his identity.
However, officers proceeded to arrest him after seeing the "huge cut on his hand" and because of the various information they had received in the investigation.
In addition to Miah, five suspects, all Bangladeshi citizens, have been arrested in connection to Umar's murder. Three have been charged. While Miah has been charged with first degree murder, the other two have been charged with accessory to murder.
