Criminal court on Tuesday held the first hearing of the Addu businessman's murder trial behind closed doors.
The 47 year old businessman Ali Abdulla was found strangled to death in a yam field in the southernmost Atoll Addu in March.
Relatives began searching for Abdulla after discovering a burglary at his shop in the Hithadhoo ward of Addu City.
Police had arrested three suspects including the victim's nephew 39 year old Ahmed Ibrahim Didi. But prosecutors have only charged Didi for murder in the first degree saying that there was not enough evidence to charge the other two suspects.
The reason behind the closed door hearing remains unclear.
Police had earlier said the murder was motivated by greed after discovering the money stolen from the victim's shop buried in a house linked to the primary suspect.
