Highlights From Police Press Conference About Woman’s Fall From a Building on Friday

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) held a press conference this morning regarding the fall of the 21-year-old young woman in the early hours of Friday morning, from a building in Male’.

The police had previously revealed the house from which the woman fell as Henveiru Fentoniya. She fell from a small window on the ninth floor onto the tin roof of a storage warehouse next to the building. The police had previously not revealed the identity of the man with her or others linked with this case. However, in the closed press conference held last Tuesday, they had revealed her name.

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In the press conference they held in Iskandharukoshi today, they revealed that the man with the victim was Raudh Ahmed Zilaal, brother of Daudh Ahmed Zilal, Under Secretary for Digital Strategy at the President’s Office who was suspended from his position without pay.

Besides the two of them, seven others – two women and five men – had gathered at a party earlier that night, around midnight. While the police had said previously that they left the initial house around 4:00 a.m., which they identified today as Henveiru Maandhoo, and went to a secondary location before Raudh and the woman entered H. Fentoniya.

Neither of them has any connection to Fentoniya, police had said. They entered the house because it was unlocked.

Police Reveals Identities of All Linked to Fall of Woman in Male’, Seizes Their Passports 

Today, police revealed the identities of all suspects involved in this case. They also said their passports have been seized and they are banned from leaving the country. 

“In the upcoming days, even while we are investigating this case, anyone involved in this case cannot leave the Maldives and go abroad,” Commissioner of Police, Ali Shujau, said.

The identities of those linked to this case: 

Raudh Ahmed Zilaal, from Galolhu Eriadhoo

Aishath Layaalee Igbal, from Galolhu North Breeze

Izdhiyan Mohamed Maumoon, from Mahchangoalhi Maandhoodhekunuge

Yoosuf Ahmed Akram, from Mahchangoalhi Maandhoodhekunuge

Yoosuf Yassar Abdulgafoor, from Henveiru Meenaazu

Hussain Hamees Ali, from Ali, Noonu Velidhoom 

Ijaajaa Jaiz, from Maathodaaavah April, Gaafu Dhaalu Faresmaathodaa

This case has caught the nation’s attention after the woman was found on the roof of the storage warehouse next to Henveiru Fentoniya Friday morning. Social media rumours regarding this case had previously speculated that she had been victim to rape or sexual assault from multiple partners, before she was pushed from the building. The public also alleged that the case was being suppressed because it involved people in high positions of power.

Earlier today, the Spokesperson to the President’s Office, Heena Waleed, posted on X that Izdhiyan Mohamed Maumoon, Under Secretary for Strategic Communication, while Daudh Ahmed, Under Secretary for Digital Strategy, was suspended from his position without pay. Following his resignation, Daudh has also been removed from the “Maldives Youth Advisory Committee.”

Izdhiyan is among the suspects who had attended the initial party. Raud, the 21-year-old with victim, is the younger brother of Daudh.

Police Publicise Footage From H. Fentoniya

The footage that the police had previously refused to show publicly, of the woman and Raudh in H. Fentoniya, was shown on live television today. It corroborated the story the police had previously said; both of them appear intoxicated.

In the closed press conference the police held on Tuesday, they showed footage to journalists of Raudh and the woman in Fentoniya, in a clear state of intoxication. They had also informed the journalists that the couple had engaged in sexual activity in the stairwells of the building, which had been captured in the security cameras attached to the building. They did not show the journalists footage of the couple engaging in sexual activity.  

On Tuesday, the police also showed the media footage, in which they said a loud noise could be heard during a period when Raud was seen alone. They said this was when she fell, they said. 

The building did not have security cameras on the top floor.

Today, the police showed footage of the two of them engaging in sexual activity on the stairwell, with black boxes placed strategically for censorship; this includes when the woman was nude, when the couple was kissing, or otherwise engaged in sexual activity. 

Later, when the media was allowed to ask questions, some journalists who had attended the previous press conference raised questions regarding the footage shown. One of the main concerns they had raised was that previously, they could hear the loud bang that “indicated” the woman had fallen. However, in today’s press conference, they brought up the loud blaring of the alarm in the building, which prevented them from hearing the fall as clearly as before. 

Commissioner Shujau said the videos had been edited to show them to the media today. However, he said that for journalists who wish to watch the videos, they will provide them with the opportunity to do so.

Court Order Out for Raud’s Arrest, No Arrests Yet

In the press conference, police said there are some issues with corroborating Raudh’s story. Since there are clashes in the statements he provided, the police have now received a court order for Raudh’s arrest, they confirmed. 

His passport has been seized, and he is barred from leaving the country as well. 

As of now, police have not confirmed whether Raudh has been arrested.

During the press conference, a journalist asked why Raudh has not been arrested yet, even though he tested positive for cannabis. Police said they do not arrest people who have used drugs, but only people in possession of drugs, as per their protocol.

Commissioner Shujau Admits Identity of Victim Revealed by Accident Previously

When a journalist asked why only the victim’s identity was revealed previously, Police Commissioner Ali Shujau said that it was by accident. He said the information he had received said the police holding the press conference had accidentally revealed the name once, while introducing the case.

However, when journalists were against this statement, Commissioner Shujau reiterated the information he received regarding the previous press conference, stating that her identity was revealed accidentally. He said if the events of that night went as described by journalists, which is that they mentioned her name but refused to mention Raudh’s name, Commissioner Shujau admitted that that was the fault of the police. 

“That is not how it should have happened,” he said.