Raud starts cooperating with investigation
Raud was remanded for seven days
Raud Ahmed Zilaal is accused of involvement in Yumnu Rasheed's "fall"
The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has stated that Raud Ahmed Zilaal, who is suspected of being involved in the fall of 21-year-old Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed from the ninth floor of H. Fentenoy onto the roof of an adjacent warehouse, has begun cooperating with the investigation.
Raud Ahmed Zilaal, who was with Yumnu inside H. Fentenoey on the night she allegedly “fell” from the stairwell window of the building’s ninth floor, was arrested under a court order on April 24. The police earlier revealed that Raud Ahmed Zilaal, 21, from G. Eriyadhoo was arrested at 06:20pm on April 24 under a court order in connection with the case of a woman falling onto the roof of H. Mithaaz on April 18.
Raud was arrested on the charges of being intoxicated at the time of the incident, involvement in Yumnu's fall, and attempted sexual assault. The police had previously stated that he was not cooperating with the investigation. They had also sought the arrest warrant because of his lack of cooperation. This was on the sixth day after the incident occurred.
However, on Monday, the police said that Raud is now cooperating with the investigation. However, no further details were disclosed.
In connection with Yumnu's fall, the passports of nine individuals were withheld, and they have been banned from leaving the country.
According to the arrest warrant for Raud, footage shows him active with her before the time she is believed to have fallen, and after the presumed time of the fall, he is seen calling out and searching for the injured party. However, the investigation officer noted that he had not filed any report about the incident with any authority. In addition to this, his urine tested positive for cannabis.
Further, the investigation has revealed that there were disputes between the victim and suspect that night, and shortly after the incident, when asked about the whereabouts of Yumnu, the suspect had claimed that he didn't know where she was and that he believed she had fallen.
Raud was remanded for seven days. His detention period will expire on April 30.
