Presidential commission on woman's fall dissolved after probe
Raud Ahmed Zilal was arrested in connection with the incident. No other suspects have been identified.
The commission established by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to investigate the fall of Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed from the ninth floor of a building in Malé has been dissolved following the completion of its work.
The commission, formed on 27 April 2025, was disbanded by presidential decree on Sunday after submitting its final report to the President on 17 June. The inquiry was initiated following an incident on 18 April, in which Yumnu was found with serious injuries after falling onto the roof of a neighbouring house.
The commission was tasked with conducting an independent and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, examining the actions taken by relevant authorities, and advising the President on further steps.
Key findings of the commission include:
-
At the time of the incident, only Yumnu and Raud Ahmed Zilal were observed to be active in H. Fantanoi, the building where the incident occurred.
-
The investigation found no evidence of third-party involvement based on CCTV footage, forensic analysis, and witness statements.
-
The commission found no indication of deliberate harm or known individuals with intent to harm Yumnu.
-
According to witness statements, residents of H. Fantanoi and Yumnu’s friends confirmed that she was not known to those living in the building.
-
CCTV footage did not show Yumnu or Raud entering any apartments within the building on the night in question. Footage from cameras inside the house was made fully available to police and investigators.
-
No indication of a confrontation or dispute between Yumnu and Raud was found leading up to the incident.
-
The investigation found that Yumnu entered the building voluntarily and climbed to the ninth floor without coercion, based on video evidence and eyewitness accounts.
-
Medical reports confirmed injuries consistent only with the fall. No signs of forced physical assault were found.
The commission concluded that Yumnu either fell, jumped, or was thrown onto the roof from a location that may not have been the terrace of the building. However, it did not reach a conclusive determination on how the fall occurred.
Raud Ahmed Zilal was arrested in connection with the incident. No other suspects have been identified.
