Woman Who Fell from Malé Building Suffers Permanent Elbow Injury, Says Family

The 21-year-old woman who fell from the ninth floor of a building in Malé onto a warehouse roof on April 18 has received a permanent injury to her elbow, her sister said on X last night.

Referring to medical professionals, she said an elbow surgery was performed on her on Friday and that the injury to her elbow is permanent. However, they said they plan to seek additional expert opinion as well.

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She had previously undergone surgery for a fragmented fracture in the C7 bone, the largest and most inferior vertebra in the neck region, on April 29. This was the most delicate surgery she had to undergo, and she was improving.

Since then, her family said she disputes the police’s claim that neither she nor Raudh Ahmed Zilal—the man she was with before her fall—had any connection to Henveiru Fentoniya, the house she fell from. She says Yoosuf Yassar Abdulgafoor, one of the seven others at the initial party, invited her to the residence.

The woman’s family has voiced strong dissatisfaction with how the authorities have handled the investigation. They allege the police have been lying and that she says she did not fall, but this was something that was done to her. 

Additionally, a local influencer, Shehenaz Moosa, raised over MVR 700,000 to cover her medical expenses. The youth have been holding serial protests, calling for a fair investigation into this case.

Raudh’s Detention Extended by an Additional 10 Days 

Raudh Ahmed Zilal, 21, arrested in connection with the case where a 21-year-old woman fell from a roof, is to be remanded under police custody for five additional days.

According to the Maldives Police Service, his bail was extended by five additional days yesterday. He was arrested on April 24 for his connection to this case and detained for five days. Later, the detention period was extended by 10 days. This is the third time his detention period has been extended. 

However, the police have not made any formal charges against him yet. 

Authorities initially detained him after finding inconsistencies in the statements he gave to police about the April 18 incident.

Authorities have confiscated the passports of everyone involved and barred them from leaving the country.

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.

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 youth has been leading serial protests calling for a fair and transparent investigation into this case since Wednesday, April 24. 

Commissioner of the Police Ali Shujau resigned from his post following public pressure. The protesters have also called for the resignation of the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusan, and the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen. 

The parliament submitted a notice of no-confidence to Minister Ameen over the previous weekend.