Police relaunches investigations into Shima's disappearance

Maldives Police Service has relaunched investigations into the case of missing 19-year-old Aminath Shima Nafiz.

The police's media officer told RaajjeMV that officers are currently active in Laamu atoll, in connection to Shima’s case.

While investigations into the case have begun relaunched, police are yet to acquire any leads in the disappearance.

Police did not reveal details on why they had begun investigations into the 19-year-old’s case, over again, despite having confirmed that they are following "suspicions" in the atoll where she disappeared.

Despite not having any leads in the case yet, MPS gave the institute’s full assurance that they will be looking into anything suspicious that surfaces.

The last update on the case was when police searched two islands about six months back in April after MPS revealed reports of Shima’s body having been burned in an uninhabited island. Officers had searched two islands in Gaaf Alif, but to no avail.

While 17 islands have been searched thus far, police revealed that they had taken statements from 46 individuals. Police have searched a 10-mile radius via air, and about 1,900 kilometers via sea route.

In September, head of the presidential inquiry commission on Disappearances and Deaths, Husnu Al Suood stated that Shima’s investigation does not fall under the mandate of the commission, as it was reported in February 2019.

The commission is tasked with investigating and seeking verdicts in cases of murders and enforced disappearance dated between 1 January 2012 to 17 November 2018.

On February 22, Shima boarded a flight from the capital to Fonadhoo island in Laamu atoll, and then attempted to travel to Maamendhoo island on a dinghy being steered by a man.

The boat is to have overturned during the trip, and the man claims to have placed Shima on top of it, before heading to shore to seek help.

While Shima has been missing since, he was among the three men that tried to flee with her sister in April.

Mohamed Fazeel has since been arrested over an abduction case of a 44-year-old in Gan island of Laamu atoll.