Suspect arrested in abduction and extortion of woman in Male’

The police have arrested a suspect in connection to the abduction of a woman in Male’ City.

Shirumeena Aboobakr, 33, Luxury, R. Kinolhas, was reported missing to the police on Saturday, October 31. The police publicly announced her as a missing person on Sunday. She returned home on Monday.

A family member told Sun that Shirumeena was held captive, beaten, and robbed of MVR 25,000.

The police arrested a suspect in connection to the case on Tuesday, identified as a 31-year-old Maldivian male.

According to a family member who spoke to Sun on Monday, Shirumeena had multiple injuries when she returned home.

“She has cuts from a box cutter on her two hands. There are marks where her hands and feet were tied. She was hit in the face. She has injuries on her back,” said the family member.

According to the family member, the abductors threatened to kill her if she didn’t give them money or if she alerted anyone to the abduction.

“She was held captive for extortion. She was released after they robbing her of MVR 25,000. They threatened to kill her if she didn’t give them the money. They also threatened to kill her if she told anyone,” said the family member.

Shirumeena runs a private business in partnership with another member of her family.

Her family said she is severely traumatized and can barely speak.

“Sharumeena is severely mentally traumatized due to the abuse she suffered. She doesn’t know where she was taken to, or where she was taken out of. She returned home after she was released. The details remain unclear as she can barely speak,” said the family member.

Sharumeena last had contact with a family member prior to her abduction at approximately 01:15 pm on Saturday, when she had been on her way to a wholesale store to buy stock for her shop.

“She went missing when she went to buy stock. She went missing after she left shop after bringing in cigarettes she purchased from OCC. I last called my sister to ask if she had Fanta Orange at the shop, to buy Fanta Orange. There was no news after that,” said the family member.

The family member said that Sharumeena’s phone was switched off after that, but was switched back on at approximately 11:00 pm on Sunday. They received a text stating she was “on my way back”, presumably from her abductors.

The police issued a statement on Monday night confirming they have launched a criminal investigation into the case, stating that Shirumeena is “believed to have been abducted, harmed, blackmailed and extorted money from”.

The police added that the investigation remains open, and that Shirumeena is being treated for her injuries.