Police deny reports of suspect in fall case leaving Maldives

The Maldives Police Service has denied reports that Raud Ahmed Zilal, a suspect charged in connection with a case involving the fall of a woman from a building, has left the country.

The case involves the fall of a woman, identified as Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed, from the stairwell window on the ninth floor of H. Fentenoy House on 18 April. She was found on the roof of the H. Mitaz warehouse.

Raud Ahmed Zilal was initially arrested on 25 April, six days after the incident. He was released from custody on 26 May following a month of detention.

Photographs circulated on social media yesterday claimed to show Raud at Velana International Airport (VIA) with his family, allegedly preparing to leave the Maldives.

In response, police issued a statement confirming that Raud remains in the country. Authorities stated that a court order to seize his passport is still active.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has filed a charge against Raud under the Penal Code for failing to provide assistance to a person in need without reasonable cause. The charge carries a basic sentence of one month and six days of imprisonment. The charges were filed based on allegations that Raud was aware Yumnu had fallen and did not seek help or alert relevant authorities.