Maldives Police Service (MPS) has admitted failure to uncover the truth behind the death of Zakiyya Moosa, who was discovered with wounds on Holhudhoo island of Noonu atoll, even after two months since the incident unfolded.

During a press conference held on Tuesday, authorities disclosed that no evidence has been found so far in the investigation to suggest that Zakiyya Moosa was murdered.

Chief Inspector of Police Mohamed Samih revealed that no signs of injury from any other party were found in the storage shed where Zakiyya was found inside the house, or on Zakiyya's body.

He mentioned that a CT scan was conducted in relation to the case and the results did not show any injuries or anything suspicious on Zakiyya's body. Samih also stated that according to the doctor's statement, the cause of death was identified as the wounds on the neck.

Shedding light on the wounds found on Zakiyya's body, Samih said that the rumors suggesting Zakiyya's neck was barely attached are not true.

However, he mentioned that there were deep wounds on both the right and left sides of her neck.

When journalists inquired about the wounds, Samih elaborated that on the right side, there was a wound between nine and seven centimeters, and on the left side, there were wounds measuring four centimeters, 10 centimeters, and seven centimeters.

He also mentioned that there were scratch-like marks on the chest, but it couldn't be confirmed if they were from human fingernails.

Further, Samih said that there was a significant amount of blood on the knife found near Zakiyya at the scene and on her clothes, and the investigation has confirmed that the blood on the knife was of the victim’s.

However, he did not clarify whether the wounds on Zakiyya's neck were caused by the same knife or not. Samih stated that it has been confirmed that the knife was one used in the kitchen of her house. When inquired about fingerprints on the knife, he did not respond and said the investigation is ongoing.

Acknowledging the concerns and allegations of the island community, Samih noted that a hijab was found in the sewage system, which led to suspicions that it might be Zakiyya's hijab. However, he stated that the investigation has so far determined that the hijab did not belong to Zakiyya.

Samih said that the investigation so far has not revealed any issues within the family or between any two individuals involving Zakiyya or any member of her family. However, he highlighted that they had received information that Zakiyya was someone who sought treatment for a mental illness.

Chief Superintendent of Police, Head of Major Crime Investigation Hassan Shifau said that a conclusion about Zakiyya's death can only be reached once the investigation is completely wrapped up. He mentioned that forensic investigations are ongoing in collaboration with foreign parties.

Zakiyya’s body was discovered by municipal workers who entered the house to collect garbage.

MPS received a report about a woman with injuries inside a house on the island, at around 10:10 am on 10 September 2024.

The 50-year-old woman had a visible gash on her neck, likely caused by the knife found near her body. Earlier, it was reported that her body was discovered within her residential compound, lying on the ground between the house and the storage shed. Police officers attended the scene and transported the body to the island’s health center. The police institution cited the health center having pronounced her dead.

The woman’s body was transferred to the capital Malé City for further analysis sometime the same day. The body was buried on 12 September 2024. The island’s residents, who provided information, asserted that she was slain and that there was a large puddle of blood at the scene. She was married and had two sons. She was living with her husband, one of her sons, and her daughter-in-law.

MPS earlier said that Zakiyya's body was brought to the capital Malé City for further analysis on 11 September 2024, and after conducting the tests, her body was transferred back to the island on 12 September 2024.

Previously having worked as a temporary teacher at the island's Meyna School, Zakiyya was described by her family members as a kind-hearted person who was very close to her family.