Maldives Police Service has said that the suspect in custody in connection to the murder 57-year-old business owner, Mahmood Abubakuru, who was brutally killed and dumped inside a well at an abandoned house in Alifu Dhaalu Atoll Dhangethi, has confessed to the crime.

Speaking at the ongoing press conference to release information regarding the murder, Police said that they have CCTV footage that show the suspect, Saalim carrying the victim on his shoulder.

As such, Hassan Saeed revealed that Saalim had called Mahmood to Nedhunge, where he worked as a live-in caregiver for an elderly relative of Mahmood. He also noted that Saalim has confessed the motive behind the murder being related to money.

Police highlighted that Mahmood was first tortured to extort money, after which Saalim had tried to kill him. Upon realising that he had failed in the first attempt, he then tried to kill him for a second time where he succeeded.

Hassan Saeed further revealed that CCTV footage has captured Salim carrying Mahmood's body between 2:00am and 3:00am that night. He also added that even though people speculated that there were others involved in the murder, investigation has found Saalim to be the only participant of this murder.

Mahmood was found murdered during a search for him – after having been declared missing.