The hearings of the trial against Mohamed Suwaid, of Athireege, S. Hulhudhoo was held on Thursday. Suwaid, rumored to have left the country to take part in the Syrian civil conflict, was charged with obstruction of police duties.

The hearing was cancelled after Suwaid failed to attend session. The charges were filed against Suwaid in 2013.

Suwaid had actively stalked missing journalist Rilwan Abdullah. Rumors had also spread that Suwaid had died in Syria.

Speaking in a press conference on April 2, 2016 Superintendent of Police Abdullah Shatheeh had confirmed that Suwaid had actively stalked Rilwan and had once been arrested in connection to the case. However, Shatheeh said that he had been released and afterwards left the country. Shatheeh said that he could not confirm whether Suwaid had died.

Video footage released by Police showed that Suwaid had followed Rilwan on a motorcycle and followed Rilwan to Hulhumale’ ferry terminal. Rilwan was last seen boarding a late-night ferry to Hulhumale’.

Based on information provided by the Police, Rilwan was bundled into a red car after he had arrived in Hulhumale’. Hairs discovered in the car was a match to the MT DNA of Rilwan’s mother.

Rilwan has been missing for over two years. Most of the key suspects in his disappearance had left the country. No arrests had been made in connection to the case.