Habeeb resigns from Yumnu case commission over family ties to chief suspect

Habeeb, who was appointed to the commission investigating the case of 21-year-old Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed, allegedly having “fallen” from the ninth floor of H. Fentenoy onto the roof of an adjacent warehouse on April 18, has been revealed to have family ties with Raud Ahmed Zilal, who the chief suspect believed to have been involved in the victim’s fall.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, a reliable source revealed that Habeeb resigned because of his family connection to Raud. He has submitted his resignation to the President's Office. However, the President's Office has not disclosed any information regarding the matter.

The family connection between Raud and Habeeb is through Raud's maternal side.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu established the "Special Presidential Commission to Investigate the Incident in Malé on April 18" on April 27. The commission was formed to have three members, and Dr. Mohamed Habeeb, a forensic specialist, accepted the invitation to join.

However, Habeeb did not disclose why he initially agreed to be on a committee investigating a case involving Raud. He also did not reveal any details about his resignation.

When the president formed the commission to investigate Yumnu's fall and appointed Habeeb, it had already been revealed that Raud Ahmed Zilal, who has family ties with Habeeb, was with Yumnu at H. Fentenoy on the night of the incident. The commission was formed after the Maldives Police Service (MPS) had publicized Raud's profile and arrested him. Consequently, Habeeb's agreement to join the commission and his resignation two days later have raised several questions among the public.

In addition to Habeeb, the committee formed under the presidential decree includes Dr. Mohamed Munavvar, who previously led efforts to reclaim lost maritime territory for the Maldives, and retired Brigadier General Ahmed Mohamed from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

Raud Ahmed Zilal, who was with Yumnu when she fell from the roof of H. Fentenoy, was arrested under a court order at 6:20pm on April 24. The allegations against him include being intoxicated at the time of the incident, involvement in Yumnu's fall, and attempted sexual assault.

In addition to this, the phones of nine individuals, including the chief suspect as well as the 21-year-old woman who fell, have been confiscated under a court order.

In connection with the case, the terrace of Maandhooge Dhekunuge, the second and fourth floors, as well as the third floor of Kashiveli, have been searched. The police have not disclosed whether anything was taken into police custody during these searches.

Yumnu was found fallen on the roof on the morning of April 18. Further investigations are currently underway in connection with the case. While the police are proceeding with the the case, a large crowd of young adults have been protesting in capital Malé City every night with demands for four consecutive nights, claiming that the police are not conducting an adequate investigation and are trying to cover up the case.