Incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Tuesday made a sensational claim saying that "missing journalist Ahmed Rilwan is almost certainly dead."
The Maldives Independent reporter Rilwan went missing nearly four years ago and his disappearance remains arguably the biggest unsolved mystery in the archipelago.
Authorities however, has thus far treated Rilwan's disappearance as a missing person's case and is yet to officially rule on his death.
President Yameen's remarks comes as a respond to former Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb's claim of the former ordering cessation on the missing reporter's investigation.
While addressing the public at Gaaf Dhaal Madaveli, president Abdulla Yameen claims his former ally former vice president Adeeb was lying about the missing reporter's case discussed during a cabinet meeting.
Bemoaning local media of quoting serious offenders, president Abdulla Yameen assured authorities were still investigating into the disappearance of the reporter.
"Minivan News reporter Ahmed Rilwan is dead, and there is no doubt about it," president Yameen said adding "Dr. Afrasheem's murder should be probed and so should the other deaths."
President Yameen stated the only case discussed at cabinet level was the bombing on presidential speedboat, which was orchestrated by the former vice president Ahmed Adeeb, and claimed authorities will reveal their findings about the murders when their investigations conclude.
