Daud sacked over false statements to commission on woman's fall
Daud was earlier suspended from his position and removed from the Youth Council shortly after the incident came to light.
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President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has dismissed Daud Ahmed Zilal from his post as Undersecretary for Digital Governance at the President’s Office following findings by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the April 18 incident involving Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed.
Yumnu was found on the rooftop of a house in Malé after falling from an adjacent building. The case led to public concern, prompting the president to establish a commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Daud was suspended from his position and removed from the Youth Council shortly after the incident came to light. His dismissal comes after the commission concluded that he had given false statements during its investigation. The commission recommended further investigation into his conduct.
Presidential Spokesperson Heena Waleed confirmed the dismissal Wednesday night, stating it was carried out as part of the implementation of the commission’s report.
The case involves Daud’s brother, Raud Ahmed Zilal, who accompanied Yumnu to the building where she later fell. Raud tested positive for drugs and his passport was seized. Social media also circulated videos and images allegedly showing Daud using drugs and alcohol.
The commission’s report highlighted inconsistencies in Daud’s statements to both the police and the commission. Daud told the commission that he met Raud between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on April 18, that Raud had returned home alone, and that he had not contacted any officials or received any information about the incident from Raud.
However, phone records showed that Daud had contacted Home Minister Ali Ihusan multiple times on the day of the incident. He also contacted then Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau and Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdullah Sharif.
The commission reported further contradictions in statements from Daud and his friends, particularly regarding whether Daud had searched for Raud after the incident. Witnesses stated that Daud had gone looking for Raud, contrary to his claim that Raud had returned home independently.
The commission concluded that Daud was aware of Yumnu’s fall and failed to disclose this information, which may have contributed to delays in her receiving medical attention.
It also stated that Raud’s negligence was linked to Daud and others who interacted with Raud at the time. The commission recommended that the matter be investigated further by the appropriate authorities.
Providing false information to official bodies is an offence under the Penal Code, punishable by up to one year in prison.
This is the second dismissal from the President’s Office related to this case. Izdian Mohamed Maumoon, who served as Undersecretary for Strategic Communications, was also removed during the course of the investigation.
