The Maldives Police Service confirmed on Thursday that the body found drifting at sea near Vaavu atoll Fenfaru, does not belong to Mohamed Liton, the missing Bangladeshi man believed to have been murdered by a Maldivian man.
Liton, 35, and Mohamed Nizaam, 45, both from Gaafu Dhaalu atoll Thinadhoo, were reported missing after they departed from Malé on December 27, 2022, on a fuel boat. While they were reported missing, Nizam was seen in Malé; Liton is yet to be sighted.
The state has decided to press charges against Nizaam, accusing him of killing Liton and dumping the body at sea, despite the fact that a body has not yet been discovered.
DNA tests were done on a drifting body found in Vaavu atoll recently; however, the results proved that it was not Liton's body. Despite this, legal professionals believe the state has enough evidence to levy murder charges against Nizaam.
The police said they have been working with foreign organisations to confirm whether the body found belongs to a foreigner who died at sea and drifted into Maldivian waters.
While the boat they were travelling on was found drifting near Hulhumalé, Nizaam, who was believed to be missing, was confirmed to be in Malé as he was seen on a photograph published on social media by someone visiting a coffee shop.
It is being speculated that he murdered Liton over a dispute over money.