Irufan Rushdhee remanded for 15 days

Murder suspect Irufan Rushdhee, who was arrested after a three-year search, has been remanded for 15 days.

The 21-year-old had been wanted by authorities since 2016, and was arrested this past weekend.

His arrested came days after the presidential commission on murders and enforced disappearances issued a search for him. It noted that Maldives Immigration claimed that Rushdhee had not returned to the country since 2015, but that CCTV footage shows him at a murder scene in 2016.

Rushdhee was arrested by chance, following a report of a boat drifting 15 miles out of Thinadhoo island in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll after running out of fuel.

Police said that the matter was reported at around 1am on Friday.

While there were three others on the boat with him, they have also been remanded for 15 days.

The 21-year-old was wanted in connection to the fatal stabbing of 14-year-old Fathir Mohamed Ali in June 2016.

A group had entered Fathir's house on the night of 3 June 2016, and stabbed him to death.

He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

While another 14-year-old, Ahmed Irshan Mohamed, was also stabbed to death earlier that day, authorities said that the two are linked.

As such, the latter is deemed a “revenge” for Irshan’s murder in connection to which, three were charged.

Three juveniles were charged with first-degree murder in connection to Irshan’s death, in August 2016.