President's Office officials Izdian sacked; Daudh suspended
Daudh has also been removed from the National Youth Advisory Council, where he previously held the position of Chairperson.
Two officials from the President’s Office have been removed from their posts following public pressure and calls for transparency in the investigation of a recent incident in Henveiru.
Izdian Mohamed Maumoon, who served as Strategic Communications Undersecretary at the President’s Office, has been dismissed. Izdian is a nephew of Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen.
In a separate action, Daudh Ahmed Zilal, Presidential Undersecretary for Digital Strategy, has been suspended without pay. He has also been removed from the National Youth Advisory Council, where he previously held the position of Chairperson. The council had been appointed to advise President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on youth-related matters.
Daudh’s removal follows the circulation of images and videos on social media allegedly showing him using drugs and alcohol. The calls for his suspension intensified after these images were shared, and further after his brother, Raud Ahmed Zilal, was reported to have entered the Henveiru building with the woman who later fell from the rooftop.
The Maldives Police Service stated that both the woman and Raud tested positive for drugs. Police added that others present at the time refused to undergo testing. Raud’s passport has since been seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
The incident occurred early Friday morning, when a 21-year-old woman was found on the roof of a house in Henveiru. Her condition deteriorated, and she was placed on a ventilator the following day. She was later removed from the ventilator on Sunday.
Police have yet to publicly disclose the full identities of those involved. At the first press briefing on the matter, police confirmed that the woman and others had gathered at a house in the Machchangolhi ward prior to the incident. That building is known to be jointly owned by Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen and his siblings, though the Minister has stated the gathering did not take place in his own apartment and denied any involvement.
