PPM: DDCom released a ‘political report’

The final report on the findings of the investigation by the Disappearances and Deaths Commission (DDCom) established by President Ibrahim Mohamed on the 2014 abduction and murder of Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla is a political report, states the opposition coalition, composed of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC).

Rilwan, 28, a journalist who worked for Minivan News (later renamed Maldives Independent), was last seen on August 8, 2014. According to DDCom, their investigation uncovered Rilwan was abducted from outside his apartment in Hulhumale’, forced into a car, and then out to the open sea on a boat, after which he was beheaded and thrown overboard.

In a press conference Thursday evening, DDCom said their investigation found uncovered Mohamed Munaz (Munakko), one of the suspects in the case, left Maldives for Syria in 2017 with assistance from then-President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

According to the DDCom, Munaz had met with Yameen before he left, and told him details about Rilwan’s murder.

The opposition coalition held a press conference at the PPM office on Thursday, in response to the allegations.

At the press conference, PNC leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla called the report “baseless”.

“It’s a political report. They are a political commission. It’s a political report released by a political commission,” he said.

Abdul Raheem said the case had been investigated and closed during Yameen’s administration.

He accused DDCom of making contradicting statements regarding Rilwan’s case. He said that DDCom’s former president and now Supreme Court justice, Husnu Al Suood had cleared Yameen of any involvement in the case back in 2019.

Abdul Raheem said he does not believe justice can be found in Rilwan’s murder during President Solih’s administration.

He said the allegations against Yameen were a political stunt by President Solih to win the 2023 presidential elections.

"Who are there on the commission? What knowledge do they have to investigate deaths? Are they capable?" he asked.

Abdul Raheem said the government was bringing up Rilwan’s murder again because they lacked confidence, they could win re-election.

Yameen’s lawyers have threatened to sue DDCom for defamation over the allegations.