Former Ungoofaaru MP Dr Afrasheem Ali pictured at a parliament sitting. PHOTO/MAJLIS
Five years since the brutal killing of prominent lawmaker Dr Afrasheem Ali, the identity of the perpetrators who orchestrated the murder remains unknown, and his family has declared that the investigation cannot be considered complete until the masterminds are discovered.
The former lawmaker of Ungoofaaru constituency and religious scholar was discovered stabbed to death in the stairwell of his home in the early hours of October 1, 2012. Police have maintained that the crime was premeditated and politically motivated, and convict Hussain Human Ahmed has been found guilty of carrying out the murder.
Speaking to Mihaaru, Afrasheem’s brother Abdul Nasir declared that the investigation does not end with Hussain Humam.
“We want to find the person who funded the murder; that’s the end of the investigation. We don’t believe that this ends with Humam. The person who paid MVR 4 million [to kill Afrasheem] must also be found,” said Abdul Nasir, who is the president of Ungoofaaru Island Council.
“Humam himself told me that he was promised payment.”
Humam is currently on death row despite Afrasheem’s family urging the authorities to delay the execution, saying that the murderer remains a key witness in identifying those who planned and paid for the murder.
Though Police have also stated that Humam had been contracted to kill Afrasheem, the Criminal Court had found him guilty and sentenced him to death. The verdict has been upheld by both the High Court and Supreme Court, and the government is working to reintroduce capital punishment in the Maldives and execute Humam’s death penalty.
Meanwhile, Abdul Nasir has accused a government conspiracy and alleged that top officials of the present administration had been behind the murder and are now trying to stop the investigation. The opposition has also continuously alleged incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s involvement in the MP’s murder.
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