Daudh Dismissed from President’s Office for Providing False Statements in Woman Fall Case

Daudh Ahmed Zilal has been dismissed from his position as Under Secretary for Digital Strategy at the President’s Office after a government investigation found that he had provided false information during the inquiry into the April 18 incident involving a young woman found unconscious on a rooftop in Malé City.

The dismissal was confirmed by Government Spokesperson Heena Waleed in a post on X, stating that the decision was based on the findings of the Special Commission appointed by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to investigate the case.

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2025 އޭޕްރީލު 18 ވަނަ ދުވަހު މާލޭގައި ހިނގި ހާދިސާ ތަޙުޤީޤުކުރުމަށް ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ އުފެއްދެވި ޚާއްޞަ ކޮމިޝަންގެ ރިޕޯޓް ތަންފީޒު ކުރެެއްވުމަށް އަޅުއްވާ ފިޔަވަޅުތަކުގެ ތެރެއިން، ތަޙުޤީޤަށް ދޮގު ބަޔާނެއްދީފައިވާކަމަށް ކޮމިޝަނުގެ ރިޕޯޓުގައި ފާހަގަކޮށްފައިވާތީ،…— Heena Waleed (@MvSpokesperson) June 18, 2025

According to the commission’s report, Daudh — the brother of the main suspect in the case, Raud Ahmed Zilal — gave misleading statements about his actions and communications on the day of the incident.

The commission also revealed that Daudh had made multiple contacts with Home Minister Ali Ihsan during the early stages of the police investigation into the case. Daudh had testified that he had no communication with high-ranking government officials and that Raud had not informed him about the woman’s fall. However, the commission’s findings contradicted his account, confirming that Home Minister Ihsan had been in communication with Daudh on the day of the incident.

The report stated that Daudh was the person who received Raud at home after the incident. It also highlighted inconsistencies between Daudh’s statements to the police and those given to the commission, indicating that he provided false testimony during the investigation.

Furthermore, the statements from Daudh’s friends, who had met with both him and Raud on the day of the incident, also showed discrepancies. The commission suggested that they may have been withholding information. Video footage reviewed by the investigators showed Raud searching for the woman immediately after the incident. However, Raud claimed he could not recall anything after that moment, including his interactions with Daudh and his companions.

The commission further noted that following the incident, Raud met with Daudh, and it was believed that they had discussed the situation. However, no information about this meeting was conveyed to the authorities.

The commission has recommended that authorities conduct a further investigation, stating that Daudh and his friends appeared to be involved in the same activities as Raud.

Daudh was initially suspended without pay on April 24 and later resigned from his position on the Presidential Youth Advisory Board. 

The April 18 incident, which involved a young woman being discovered unconscious on the rooftop of a residence in Henveiru, prompted national concern and led to the creation of the high-level commission to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Raudh Ahmed Zilal, the main suspect in the case has been formally charged with failing to assist a person in danger without justifiable reason.

Raudh was arrested on April 24, six days after the woman was found critically injured on the rooftop of a warehouse near Fentoniya in Henveiru. He remained in custody for over a month, with his remand extended multiple times by the Criminal Court.

Despite a 20-day remand order issued on May 20, Raudh was released on May 22, citing procedural issues. He was re-arrested later the same day under a fresh court order. His legal team criticised the authorities for disregarding two valid court orders, and his brief release led to the cancellation of a scheduled High Court hearing. Following the conclusion of the police investigation, Raud has since been released.