Police seek charges against Raud over woman's fall
Raud was with Yumnu on the staircase of H. Fentenoy on Buruzu Magu at the time of her fall.
Top Stories
Maldives Police Service has submitted a case to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) seeking charges against Raud Ahmed Zilal in connection with the fall of Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed from the roof of a warehouse in Malé on 18 April.
Raud was arrested on 25 April, six days after the incident. As of Sunday, one month had passed since his arrest. The police submitted the case before the expiration of the detention period, unless extended.
Raud’s legal representative confirmed that police informed him of the case being forwarded to the Prosecutor General. The Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed that the case was received last Friday and is now officially registered.
PGO spokesperson Ahmed Shafeeu stated that a decision on whether to press charges will be made within 15 days, in accordance with legal procedure.
Raud was with Yumnu on the staircase of H. Fentenoy on Buruzu Magu at the time of her fall. According to police, he tested positive for cannabis. Authorities have stated that no other individuals were involved at the scene, and Raud was arrested for non-cooperation with the investigation.
A second warrant issued for Raud's arrest revealed there had been a dispute between Raud and Yumnu on the night of the incident. The warrant also noted that Raud informed another individual about Yumnu's fall.
Following media coverage of the contents of this warrant, subsequent court proceedings relating to Raud have been held in closed sessions. The Criminal Court cited Article 42 of the Constitution as the basis for the decision. The article allows for closed hearings in circumstances where:
-
Public morality or peace may be affected, or national security may be compromised
-
The interest of a child or an injured party must be protected
-
Public proceedings may hinder the administration of justice
Yumnu later regained consciousness and spoke to her family regarding the incident. In a press conference, the family stated that Yumnu did not fall voluntarily and alleged the presence of others at the time of the incident.
Police, however, stated that the family did not cooperate in facilitating an official statement from Yumnu. As a result, police are seeking assistance from Malaysian authorities to obtain her statement abroad.
