Ihusaan, CP and ACP head to N. Holhudhoo amid ongoing NIC investigation

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Riyaz have abruptly arrived in Holhudhoo island of Noonu atoll at a time the National Integrity Commission (NIC) is actively investigating in the island whether there was any negligence by the Maldives Police Service (MPS) in the death of Zakiyya Moosa, whose body was found with injuries in the island.

According to a reliable source, NIC officials arrived on the island on Wednesday, 5 March 2025. The minister and some senior police officials arrived on the island on Thursday, 6 March 2025.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, an island resident revealed that the home minister arrived on the island very abruptly. He said that the minister arrived on the island with a police team at around 1:30pm on Thursday. He said that the home minister had met with people who have been expressing concerns about this case. It is also known that he met with a group of youth from the island, separately.

In addition to this, RaajjeMV has learned that after leaving Holhudhoo at 5:30pm, the team returned to Holhudhoo again at 9pm. An island resident has told RaajjeMV that they met with several people on the island until around 2am.

Another person told RaajjeMV that the home minister and the police officials requested to meet with people related to Zakiyya's death, individually. They said that they requested to meet with the people who found Zakiyya's body and other important people involved in the case, which raised questions among those who spoke to RaajjeMV.

According to the public, the home minister and the police tried to portray that Zakiyya died by suicide during their meetings with the public. The public who spoke to RaajjeMV also questioned whether the home minister and the police officials going to the island at the same time as NIC would not influence the case.

The home minister visited Holhudhoo before as well. Back then, the home minister had said that he believes there was negligence in the ongoing investigation of Zakiyya's death case. Speaking to the island's residents, the home minister said that he accepts the police negligence pointed out by the residents. He also noted that some things have happened due to negligence.

Zakiyya was found dead with injuries on 10 September 2024. Since then, the police have been conducting an investigation into the case. However, several have expressed concerns about some of the statements made by the police and the way the police investigation is being conducted.

In connection with this, protests have been held in the island on several occasions. Recently, as pressure from the island's residents increased, a team including Home Minister Ihusaan and Police Commissioner Ali Shujau visited the island on Tuesday. They also met with the residents of the island.

While addressing the residents' concerns at the meeting, the home minister said that he accepts the police negligence highlighted by the residents. He also said that some things have unfolded due to negligence.

In addition to this, the home minister has stated that there is a specific department within the police that investigates if something happens. He also noted that there are two independent institutions in the Maldives that investigate such matters. Similarly, the home minister mentioned that in some cases, the People's Majlis also reviews how the police have acted in such cases.

Therefore, the home minister has also stated that they will not withhold any cooperation that needs to be given by the police to any of these stages.

Speaking further, the home minister has also said that the police decision not to conduct an autopsy on Zakiyya was wrong. He added that if the woman’s autopsy had been conducted that day, they wouldn't even need to talk about these issues today.