The three men who were arrested on the accusation of abducting a 16 year old girl has been released.
The police confirmed that three men aged 22, 24 and 26 who were seen leaving Maamendhoo island in a dinghy with a young girl last month, were released by the court on Wednesday under special conditions. The police did not reveal details of the conditions.
It has been reported that the girl aboard the vessel was the 16-year old younger sibling of the 19-year Aminath Shima who recently disappeared at sea under suspicious circumstances.
Eyewitnesses who saw the three men leaving Maamendhoo island with Shima's sister said the men had their faces covered when they departed from the island.
Among the three men is the prime suspect in Shima's disappearance, Ibrahim Fazeel.
According to news reports following Shima's disappearance, Ibrahim Fazeel was driving the boat carrying both himself and Shima to Maamendhoo island after she arrived at Kadhdhoo Domestic Airport from capital Male'. It was reported that Fazeel traveled to Kadhdhoo to receive Shima on her arrival to transport her to her island, Maamendhoo. It was also reported that after the boat capsized, Fazeel handed Shima a mobile phone and an empty petrol tank to hold on to, before swimming off to Six Senses Laamu to seek help and alert the Coast Guard. While the search for the missing girl continues, the police have launched a special investigation into the happenings around the incident.
The intent behind the three masked men's actions in fleeing with Shima's sister is unknown, although Shima's family claims the men were going into hiding, taking Shima's sister hostage. The police have not revealed any details surrounding the case.
Prime suspect Ibrahim Fazeel
