Habeeb resigns from presidential commission on woman's fall

Dr Mohamed Habeeb has resigned from the presidential commission appointed to investigate the fall of Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed from a building in Malé, less than two days after the commission was formed, due to a family connection to a person arrested in relation to the case.

The President issued a decree on Saturday night establishing a special commission to review the police investigation into Yumnu’s fall. Along with Dr Habeeb, two other members were appointed to the commission.

Dr Habeeb, an orthopaedic specialist, resigned due to his family relationship with Raud Ahmed Zilal, 21, who has been arrested in connection with the incident. Raud and Dr Habeeb are connected through Raud's mother.

The President’s Office has not issued a comment regarding the resignation.

It remains unclear why Dr Habeeb initially accepted the appointment or why an individual with a family link to a person involved in the investigation was selected for the commission.

Attempts to obtain a comment from Dr Habeeb regarding his resignation were unsuccessful.

Prior to Yumnu's fall, CCTV footage from H. Fentenoy shows Raud accompanying her. Raud was subsequently remanded in custody for five days.

According to the Investigation Officer, an argument occurred between Yumnu and Raud on the night of the incident. Investigation documents state that shortly after Yumnu fell, Raud said he did not know her location and suggested that she had "probably fallen."

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