Police have launched a criminal investigation over the disappearance of Thasleem Mohamed, 43, who went missing on Friday from a sandbank near Kaafu atoll Huvafenfushi island.
Police Spokesperson and Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Shifan said suspicious incidents had occurred in his disappearance. Shifan did not give details but said a criminal investigation was underway.
Police did not say whether the criminal investigation was launched because they believed it was a case of abduction or because they believed there had been threats to Thasleem's life.
Police added that the search operation was ongoing.
Thasleem was last seen around 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Friday at the sandbank.
Authorities are not certain he went missing at sea, but Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) divers had searched an area of 5000 square feet by snorkelling and 3000 square feet by diving around the sandbank.
Thasleem's family told Adhadhu that a missing person report was submitted to the police and the MNDF on Friday.
The sandbank is quite large and another group of people were also visiting at the same time as Thasleem and his friends.
