The Presidential Commission investigating deaths and disappearances has said that the Minivan News journalist, Ahmed Rilwan was kidnapped and taken out to sea and killed.

The Commission made the statement during a press conference today.

Based on the evidence gathered and witness statements, President of the Commission Husnu Al-Suood revealed that it is evident that Rilwan was murdered after being taken out to the sea in a dinghy.

Suood further added that the murder took place on the night of 7th August, 2014. He also revealed that the Maldivian branch of Al-Qaeda, Jabhat al-Nusra was behind the murder.

It was also revealed that about three hours of security footage from the night of 7th August, 2014 showed that two individuals if the extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra had followed Rilwan. Mohamed Hamid and Mohamed Suwaid is said to be seen in these footage, following Rilwan between 10:00pm and 12:55am of that night.

Suood noted that Rilwan got on the ferry to go back to Hulhumale at 1:00pm, as revealed by someone present in the same ferry. After this, his mobile had pinged at a cell tower in Hulhumale which was after the estimated time of arrival for the ferry.

Hence, he confirmed that Rilwan was indeed in Hulhumale' that night.

Suood then revealed that it was evident as revealed by neighbours of Rilwan that the person who was allegedly shoved into a red car and kidnapped on the same night is indeed Rilwan.

The witnesses in this incident noted that they had come out to the balcony to the screams of a man, and found that a man was being shoved into the back of a car. They also noted the presence of a knife near the car, and added that they had reported of the incident to the Police.

Suood added that Alif Rauf was one of the people in the front seat of the car, and added that all others who were present in the car had also been identified. However he did not reveal any other names. He also added that the headlights of the car were turned off during driving and that three other motorcycles had followed behind.

According to Suood, forensic investigations also confirmed that the hair found in the car was of Rilwan's.

Suood asserted that the commission is now working on to further strengthen the evidence that they have gathered. He even revealed that they are aware of the identity of the man to whom the sea vessel belonged to and that a man in Addu City was directing the vessel.