Maldives president apologises for Rilwan death remarks

“In the remarks about Rilwan, I didn’t decide at all whether he had died or not. I’m not the one who legally determines whether someone is dead, ok? The police will investigate that. My meaning was, my intention was, ‘what [Ahmed] Adeeb is saying is baseless,'” he said during a visit to Faresmaathoda in a campaign tour of Gaaf Dhaal atoll.

“With God’s grace, God willing Rilwan won’t die, and we can find him as well.”

Yameen said his remarks on the island of Madaveli earlier Tuesday were aimed at his jailed former vice president’s claim that the president had “overruled” his efforts within the cabinet to find the missing journalist.