Missing journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla’s family files a case at Police Integrity Commission، over claims of police negligence in the investigation of his disappearance.
In a press conference held by the family today، the 28 year old journalist’s older sister Mariyam Fazna said that no leads in the investigation of Rilwan’s case after 82 days of his disappearance has been found، and claims that the police has been neglecting the case.
“For this reason، we have filed a case at the Police Integrity Commission today،” Rilwan’s sister said.
The family marks that، Rilwan was abducted during the series of threatening messages and phone calls the media had been receiving، and that Rilwan himself had informed the police about such threats.
Stating the reasons for filing the case against the police at PIC، the family says that the police was informed about an alleged kidnapping event from around 2am the night Rilwan disappeared، from in front of where he was living at. Rilwan’s sister said that the police took statement from the witnesses 6 days afterwards. Also، she said that the police patrolling Hulhumale that night tried to follow the mysterious “red car” that allegedly kidnapped a person، but the chief at Hulhumale police station had refused to permit the officers to go through the car.
She also said that the police went through Rilwan’s apartment 29 hours after his disappearance، and his workplace، Minivan News، 11 days afterwards.
“We believe that these two places are places that needed immediate checking and investigation from the moment we filed the case of his disappearance،” Rilwan’s sister said.
Moreover، the family says that the police refused to make public announcements claiming for public information about Rilwan.
Finally، the family claims that MPS has “dishonored” Rilwan’s family، accusing the family of being used by individuals to gain political superiority. This comment by the MPS came after a Maldivian non-governmental organisation Maldivian Democracy Network hired a private investigator to look into Rilwan’s disappearance.
“The report was not in any way prepared with the family’s involvement. And the police had never advised the family to not do anything specific. The police، without checking if true or false، making accusations like this on our family is an act that diminishes MPS’s professionalism، and it is not the way they must treat a party who request for their services،” Rilwan’s family said.