Attorney General Ahmed Usham stated on Saturday that former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made false claims during Friday’s joint press conference by asserting that suspects detained in connection with the disappearance of former journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla were released by the current government. 

During the press conference attended by former presidents Solih, Mohamed Nasheed, and Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Solih claimed that following an in-depth investigation into Rilwan’s disappearance, three suspects had been detained but were released when the current administration took power, and that they now hold high-ranking positions in the government.

Solih also emphasized that justice has yet to be served in Rilwan’s case and called on the government to continue efforts toward accountability.

In a post on X, Usham refuted Solih’s statement, asserting that the suspects were actually released during the 2023 election period. He clarified that the last detainee was released on September 19, 2023, and criticized Solih for spreading what Usham described as falsehoods intended to mislead the public.

The suspects—Ismail Abdul Raheem (Isu), Ahmed Ismail (Buru Ahandhu), and Ahmed Muaz (Gut Mua)—were arrested on June 26, 2022, in connection with Rilwan’s disappearance. They were detained under court orders related to Rilwan’s kidnapping and murder, as well as the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed.

However, all three were later acquitted and released. Ahandhu was released on June 22, 2023; Isu on July 12, 2023; and Gut Mua on September 19, 2023, during the presidential election period.

According to the Presidential Commission’s report, Rilwan was abducted near his apartment, forced into a vehicle, taken to a dinghy, beheaded, and his body was disposed of at sea on the night of August 8, 2014.