Suspect in oil attack on Mandhy detained in 2.2-kilo heroin bust

Ahmed Rishmah, 20, Sunlight Villa, GA. Dhaandhoo. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)

A young man who was arrested from Male’ last year for allegedly following an activist from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on a motorcycle and throwing engine oil on her has been revealed to have been rearrested by police in a major heroin trafficking case.

Mariyam 'Mandhy' Zubair, who works in an administrative role at the MDP office, and is the mother of South Galolhy MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, was attacked with oil by two individuals who followed her as she drove her motorcycle home on early March 17, 2025.

The then-20-year-old Ahmed Rishmah from Sunlight Villa in GA. Dhaandhoo, was arrested in the case over a week later on March 27, 2025, He has initially remanded for 15 days, but was granted conditional release on April 12, 2025.

Sun has learnt that Rishmah is back in police custody, this time in connection to a major drug trafficking case.

The case in question involves 38-year-old Ranjini Jeevananthan from Malaysia, who was arrested from the Velana International Airport (VIA) on February 28 with a luggage holding 2.2 kilos of heroin. Rishmah, now 21, was one of two Maldivian men who were arrested in connection to the case.

Combined photos of (from L-R) Ahmed Rishmah, 21, Sunlight Villa, GA. Dhaandhoo; Looth Ibrahim, 29, Furusathu, GDh. Vaadhoo; and Ranjini Jeevananthan, 38, Malaysia. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)

Rishmah has been in police custody since, and had his remand extended by 30 days on Saturday.

He faces a life sentence of 25 years and a fine of MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million is found guilty in the case.

Back when the Criminal Court had granted him conditional release in Mandhy’s case, the court decided that despite the evidence in the case, the suspicion against him was of a minor criminal offense, and he had already spent 15 days in detention.

The court also cited Rishmah’s assurance that he would cooperate with the police investigation.

The initial detention order issued by the Criminal Court in the case revealed Rishmah had been the person driving the motorcycle, and that he identified the person who had been in the backseat and threw oil on Mandhy.

However, it is unclear if the police arrested the second person involved in the attack.