Didn't fall on my own; 5 with me: Yumnu tells family
Yumnu reportedly informed her family that she had visited the same house previously.
Family members of Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed, who sustained injuries after falling from a building and landing on the roof of a house in Malé on 18 April, have publicly stated that she did not jump, but was pushed.
The allegation was shared during a live television statement by Yumnu’s sister on Thursday evening.
According to a message sent to RaajjeTV and Channel 13 by an sister of Yumnu, who is currently receiving medical treatment in Malaysia, Yumnu has communicated with her relatives regarding the events of the night in question.
The sister stated that Yumnu went to the residence on the night of the incident at the invitation of Yusuf Yassar Abdul Ghafoor, who has since been barred from leaving the country. Yumnu reportedly informed her family that she had visited the same house previously. On the night of the incident, she said there were four others present besides Raud Ahmed Zilal, the individual currently in custody in connection with the case.
“She said she wouldn’t have done this herself. She said she didn’t fall by herself,” the sister quoted Yumnu as saying.
The family also questioned the information initially provided by the Maldives Police Service, including claims that the incident took place in a ‘random’ house without surveillance cameras. The sister claimed that Yumnu had gone to the house after receiving the location from Yassar and had visited the same place earlier.
“In her last words, Yumnu asked me, ‘Will you get justice? Are you sure you will get justice? This was not done by myself; this was done by some people,’” said the sister.
Raud Ahmed Zilal, who was arrested in connection with the case, was transferred back to Dhoonidhoo detention centre on the same day.
The family also criticised the handling of the investigation by the Maldives Police Service and the Presidential Commission of Inquiry. They said the Commission has not yet contacted the family, and that no follow-up questioning has taken place. The sister further questioned the purpose of the Commission’s newly launched online portal if the family is not being engaged directly.
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate the incident and launched a portal earlier this week for the public to submit information and complaints related to the case.
