Raudh Released From Police Custody

Raudh Ahmed Zilal, the man arrested in connection with the fall of the woman from a building in Male’, has been released today.

The 21-year-old was released before the enforcement of the latest 20-day remand extension. The High Court confirmed that it dismissed his appeal case following a request he submitted after his release this morning. A hearing on the matter had been scheduled for today.

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The Maldives Police Service has not provided a reason for his release.

Police Working With Malaysian Police to Talk to Woman Who Fell

Police announced today that they are working with Malaysian authorities to speak with the 21-year-old woman who fell from a building on 18 April.

In a statement posted on their social media accounts, police said they had made arrangements to interview the woman as soon as her family agreed to cooperate. To facilitate this, two officers—one of whom is a medical officer—travelled to Malaysia after she was transferred there for further medical treatment.

“The police team remains hopeful that her family will cooperate,” the statement read.

2025 އޭޕްރިލް 18 ވަނަ ދުވަހު ހ. މިޓާޒް ގޭގެ ފުރާޅު މައްޗަށް އަންހެނަކު ވެއްޓުނު މައްސަލައާ ގުޅިގެން ފުލުހުން ހިންގަމުންދާ ތަހުގީގާ ގުޅޭ pic.twitter.com/YWVfAW6ETM— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) May 22, 2025

However, despite repeated efforts, the woman’s family has refused to cooperate, and officers have been unable to speak with her. As a result, police are now coordinating with Malaysian counterparts under the provisions of Malaysian law to establish communication.

The Context

On April 18, 2025, a 21-year-old woman was found on the roof of a warehouse in Henveiru, Male’. The police later revealed she fell from the ninth floor of Fentoniya around 4:30 a.m. that morning. She was reported to the police around 7:30 a.m. that morning, after which she had been receiving medical care in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), until she was sent to Malaysia on April 26 for additional medical treatment.

Public trust in the police has declined in relation to this case, amid accusations of interference in the investigation. Many believe that those involved are the children of individuals in high-ranking positions, and that influence may have been used to obscure the case. 

Raudh, the man the woman had spent her last moments with prior to her fall, was arrested on April 24. He was initially set to be kept under state custody for five days, which was later extended by ten days on April 30, following which an additional ten days was added to his remand. 

Raudh is the younger brother of Daudh Ahmed Zilal, the Under Secretary for Digital Strategy at the President’s Office. Daudh was suspended from his position without pay on Thursday, April 25.

The passports of seven others connected to this case have been seized. They are barred from leaving the country.

The youth held serial protests calling for a fair and transparent investigation into this case for a couple of weeks after the incident.

The parliament submitted a notice of no-confidence to Minister Ameen on April 29. However, on May 15, the parliament quashed this motion.