Politics

Maldivian man arrested over gangster’s murder in Colombo

The arrest of the 28-year-old is the first made in Malé over the killing of the murder of Maldivian national and notorious gangster Hussain Razeen ‘Rabarey’ in Colombo.

Published

9 years ago

April 12, 2016

The Maldivian police arrested today a 28-year-old man over the murder of a notorious gangster in Sri Lanka.

The criminal court has remanded the unnamed man for a period of 15 days. The arrest is the first to be made in Malé over the murder of Maldivian national Hussain Razeen ‘Rabarey’ in Colombo.

Razeen was found with neck injuries lying face down at the periphery of an abandoned paddy field near the Tumbovila Bridge. The Sri Lankan police arrested a Maldivian man and his Sri Lankan accomplice in Colombo at the time.

Deputy Head Chief Superintendent Mohamed Riyaz said the Maldivian police are collaborating with the Sri Lankan police on the murder case.

“From those who were involved in killing Hussein Razeen, we are investigating the ones in Mlae’ with the Sri Lanka Police,” he said. The Sri Lankan police are leading the probe.

Razeen, who was living in Sri Lanka at the time of his murder, 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.

He 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.

According to local daily Haveeru, Razeen’s family had been searching for him since 11:30pm the night before his death. The family reportedly learned of his death from a Sri Lankan newspaper.

Sri Lankan police have previously said Razeen was killed for a contract of MVR15million (US$986,000). A Maldivian businessman had first tried to carry out the killing, but contracted the murder to a Maldivian man later.

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 the November 6.