Partygoers' passports seized over woman's fall
The woman, aged 21, fell onto the roof of a nearby warehouse in the early hours of Friday morning.
The passports of eight individuals who were present at a birthday gathering attended by a woman who later fell from a building in Henveiru have been seized by the Maldives Police Service.
Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau confirmed at a press conference held at Iskandhar Koshi on Thursday that the passports were seized as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident. The woman, aged 21, fell onto the roof of a nearby warehouse in the early hours of Friday morning. Police said the group had gathered at a residence Machchangolhi for a birthday celebration.
According to the police, a court order was obtained to prevent the individuals from leaving the country.
Commissioner Shujau stated, “We have received orders to prevent others from leaving the Maldives as they may have some connection to the case.”
The police have publicly released the names and details of those whose passports were seized:
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Raud Ahmed Zilal, 21, of G. Eriyadhoo
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Aishath Layali Iqbal, 22, of G. Northbridge
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Izdian Mohamed Maumoon, 28, of MA. Mandhoogedhekunuge
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Yousuf Ahmed Akram, 22, of MA. Mandhoogedhekunuge
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Yousuf Yassar Abdul Ghafoor, 28, of H. Meenaz
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Aminath Junaida Jamsheed, 24, of M. Thilafalhu
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Hussain Hamees Ali, 28, of Ali/N. Velidhoo
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8-
Ijaz Jaiz, 24, of Mathoda/GDh. Fares-Maathoda
Police confirmed there were five men and three women at the gathering, which took place over a period of four hours.
The building where the party occurred is co-owned by Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen and his siblings. While the gathering did not take place in the minister's personal apartment, two of his nephews were present at the event.
The Minister issued a statement on social media denying any involvement or interference in the investigation. He said he learned of the incident on Friday evening and stated that the individuals involved were residing in a different section of the house.
The woman who fell from the rooftop was initially placed on a ventilator at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital. The hospital has since confirmed that she has been removed from the ventilator and is currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.
Following the incident, two individuals holding posts in the President’s Office and who are relatives of Minister Ameen have also been removed from their positions:
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Daudh Ahmed Zilal, Presidential Undersecretary for Digital Strategy, has been suspended without pay. He has also been removed from the chairmanship of the National Youth Advisory Council, which advises President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on youth matters.
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Izdian Mohamed Maumoon, who served as Strategic Communications Undersecretary, has also been dismissed from his post.
