Crime

Suspect arrested over gangster’s murder paid for contract killing

Chief Inspector Mohamed Riyaz said today that a forensic analysis has found that a photo of Razeen lying dead in a van was sent to the suspect’s phone on the night of the murder. On the following morning, the suspect arrested in Malé last week transferred money to the bank account of the man arrested for the murder in Sri Lanka.

Published

9 years ago

April 17, 2016

A 28-year-old man arrested in Malé last week in connection with the murder of a notorious Maldivian gangster in Sri Lanka paid for the contract killing, the police have revealed.

According to Sri Lankan media, Hussain Razeen ‘Rabarey’ was killed on a contract of RS140 million (US$1 million) in November. The Sri Lankan police had arrested a Maldivian man and his Sri Lankan accomplice in Colombo at the time.

Chief Inspector Mohamed Riyaz said today that a forensic analysis has found that a photo of Razeen lying dead in a van was sent to the suspect’s phone on the night of the murder.

On the following morning, the suspect arrested in Malé last week transferred money to the bank account of the man arrested for the murder in Sri Lanka.

The criminal court remanded the suspect to 15 days in custody last Tuesday.

Riyaz said the Maldivian police are assisting their Sri Lankan counterparts in the murder investigation. Discussions are ongoing on exchanging evidence and how to prosecute the suspects, the chief inspector added.

Razeen was found with neck injuries lying face down at the periphery of an abandoned paddy field near the Tumbovila Bridge.

The 29-year-old was a prime suspect in the fatal stabbing of Ali Ishar in December 2007, a killing that sparked a cycle of gang-related murders in the capital.

He had turned himself to police after an Interpol red notice was issued, but did not face trial due to lack of evidence. Razeen was also arrested in 2010 on a charge of threatening a police officer.

According to Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror, Razeen had been living in Pepiliyana and operating a business. Two gold chains and a bunch of keys were found near his body.

The Sri Lankan police have found the van used in the murder, the murder weapon and Razeen’s his smart watch, which had details of the messages received to his phone, and calls made to and from his phone. The two men arrested in Sri Lanka have reportedly confessed to the crime.

Razeen was buried in Sri Lanka on November 6.