NYN | News
The disappearance of the mobile phone belonging to suspect Mohammed Sadeq Al-Makhlafi, who was killed days ago in a joint security operation in Taiz, has sparked widespread questions about the fate of one of the most crucial digital pieces of evidence linked to the assassination of Iftihan Al-Mushahari, the head of the Cleanliness and Improvement Fund.
Security sources in Taiz confirmed today that the device was not handed over to the Public Prosecution or any official investigative authority, despite being in Al-Makhlafi’s possession at the time of his death.
The sources explained that the phone may contain video clips and personal messages that the suspect had recently recorded or sent—potentially making it a source of sensitive information about his activities and connections.
Security experts pointed out that the loss of the device represents a serious breach of the criminal evidence handling procedures, as such an item should have been the first to be documented in the official chain of custody reports.
Digital forensics specialists argue that the phone’s disappearance cannot be explained as a coincidence—especially since modern forensic teams are capable of retrieving data even from damaged devices.
According to observers, the involvement of multiple security agencies in the operation further complicates the case and widens the circle of suspicion, with growing speculation that the phone may have been intentionally hidden to obscure sensitive leads in the case or to cover up the involvement of high-level officials.
