Charges have been raised against three of the six individuals arrested in connection to the murder of 54-year-old Ismail Umar.

The Prosecutor General (PG) Office has forwarded the cases against the three individuals -all expatriates- to the Criminal Court.

Speaking to RaajjeMV on Tuesday, media official at the PG Office said that the cases were forwarded to the Criminal Court on July 30; adding that one is charged with first degree murder, while the other two have been charged with accessory.

A total of six expatriates were arrested in connection to Umar's brutal murder; charges have not been raised against the other three.

Ismail Umar's body was found in the ice processing unit of the ice plant in Ihavandhoo island on Haa Alifu atoll on June 16. A mechanic at the plant, Umar had been in charge of its overall maintenance.

While he was attacked with a sharp object, police officers have reportedly recovered the weapon used to attack him.

The first individual arrested in the murder was 27-year-old Suman Miah, a fellow worker at the ice plant. According to police, Miah has confessed to the murder.

The murder prompted the Council to issue rigid strict guidelines on expatriates in the island, which was later reversed.