President office spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz on Tuesday explained president Abdulla Yameen's earlier statement on the same day regarding the missing Minivan News journalist.
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."
Explaining president's earlier remarks regarding the missing journalist, president office spokesperson noted that president Yameen had not proclaimed the demise of the Minivan News reporter but rather responded to former Tourism Minister's accusations.
According to Muaz, the president's statement did not mean he was confirming the demise of Ahmed Rilwan, but was stressing he has been missing for a considerably long time and everyone bemoans the case.
The Minivan News reporter went missing back in 2014 and many believe he was abducted. Since then authorities have probed into the sudden disappearance of Rilwan but have not come to any substantial evidence leading towards any conclusion.
