Knife found outside murdered journalist Rilwan’s home sent abroad for further analysis
DDCom has requested for public assistance regarding a knife as well as Rilwan's disappearance, offering MVR 500,000 for information
From a rally calling for justice for Ahmed Rilwan, who was last seen in August 2014
The knife, which was taken in as evidence from where an individual had been forced into a car outside journalist Ahmed Rilwan's home the night of his disappearance, has been sent abroad for further analysis.
The Presidential Inquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances and Deaths (DDCom) confirmed this at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon,
Speaking there, commission member Misbah Abbas revealed that the commission had identified the knife to be a key piece of evidence in Rilwan's case.
He added that the commission believed there would be those among the public that knew the truth of what happened on the night of Rilwan's murder, and echoed the DDCom's earlier call for help by sharing that information with the commission.
Attending to questions by members of the press, Misbah Abbas said on Tuesday that the commission had seized the passports of 11 people in relation to various cases being investigated by the DDCom. However, Misbah was unable to provide details on how many of those passports corresponded to people who had been placed under a travel ban in relation to the commission's investigation of Rilwan's case.
The Presidential Inquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances and Deaths (DDCom) has previously called for public assistance in acquiring information relating to the 2014 disappearance and murder of the Minivan News journalist.
The DDCom in a press release on Monday asked for information in relation to the knife; the stainless steel 'Saekodive' brand knife had been taken in by police as evidence from the scene.
The DDCom has offered an incentive of MVR 500,000 for any member of the public who may provide additional information about the knife, or in relation to the enforced disappearance and murder of Rilwan.
The commission has asked members of the public who wish to share information with them in relation to this case to attend the commission in person, or to contact them through their phone number 7390841, which will also be accessible via WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram and Signal.
Serving justice in Minivan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan's disappearance and murder had been a critical electoral pledge for President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during the presidential elections of 2018. Last week, the state appointed lawyer Fareesha Abdulla, a member of the Presidential Inquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances and Deaths, as the president of the commission.
