Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameedh has stated that only the Commission on Deaths and Disappearances has sole investigative authority over case of Ahmed Rilwan.

In a series of tweets, the CP noted that under the Presidential Commissions Act, the Commission on Deaths and Disappearances has sole investigative authority over the case of Ahmed Rilwan. He added that the same law fully empowers the Commission to directly seek arrest warrants for any person it deems necessary in the case.

He further stressed that since Maldives Police Service is not the investigative authority in the case, it cannot apply for an arrest warrant on behalf of the investigative authority.

"As Commissioner of Police, I assure the public that MPS will fully assist DDCOM in effecting the immediate arrest of any person against whom DDCOM has obtained an arrest warrant from the courts," he added.

CP's statement comes at a time the Commission had ordered Police to further investigate the issue where the statement of officer Mohamed Fayaz Ismail was found to have inaccuracies. Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath has also requested Police to seek a court order to arrest the two intel officers who allegedly tried to forge Rilwan's passport.

However, Police said in a statement that there was no legal basis to arrest any of the said officers.