Raud's detention extended by five more days

The Criminal Court has extended the detention of Raud Ahmed Zilaal, 22, by an additional five days.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) arrested Raud on April 24, six days after 21-year-old Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed was found fallen onto the roof of H. Mithaaz from the ninth floor of H. Fentenoy in the early hours of April 18.

After initially detaining Raud for five days in Yumnu’s case, his detention was extended by 10 days. On May 10 his remand period was extended for the third time, for five more days.

After being held for several days, Raud was released from police custody on Thursday morning, only to be re-arrested not long after. At the time of Raud's release, a hearing was scheduled at the High Court to appeal the lower court's order to detain him. The police stated that Raud was released due to some procedural requirements. He was re-arrested on Thursday evening.

The police said that when Raud was brought before the Criminal Court to decide on his detention, the court ordered him to be remanded for five more days.

Raud's release from detention came to light when the case he had appealed at the High Court regarding his remand period was withdrawn from his side, while the case was still scheduled for hearing. The police had previously stated that Raud was released based on procedural advice from the Prosecutor General's Office.

Raud was first arrested when severe criticism began to be directed at the ongoing police investigation into Yumnu's case. Major mistakes made by the police in this case have come to light. In connection with the case, Raud was arrested under a court order.

The police institution has alleged that Raud is suspected of being involved in Yumnu’s fall, in addition to being intoxicated at the time of the incident and attempting to commit sexual assault.

While the police made these allegations when requesting Raud's detention, they had earlier stated that no other individuals or groups were believed to be involved in Yumnu’s fall. In addition to this, the police have disclosed information about seven other individuals who were with Yumnu on the night of the incident.

Although police questioned Raud and tested him for drugs in connection with the incident of 21-year-old Yumnu 's fall, he was not initially arrested. Raud was arrested five days after the incident occurred.

Everyone except Raud had refused to provide urine samples to the police. While not much detail has been revealed about the police investigation into these individuals, two people among them are nephews of Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen.

The police institution has also seized the phones of all these individuals under a court order. In connection with the case, police have also searched the terrace and second and fourth floors of M. Maandhooge Dhekunuge, the home of Minister Ameen and his siblings, as well as the third floor of G. Kashiveli. However, police have stated that nothing related to the case was found in these locations. CCTV footage from Maandhooge Dhekunuge was also not available to the police.

Yumnu has since been taken to Malaysia by her family for further medical treatment. According to her family, doctors have successfully performed the most delicate and complex surgery required for the 21-year-old victim.

In response to growing public outcry over alleged police negligence in investigating Yumnu’s fall, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has since established a presidential commission to investigate the case. Several continue to voice concerns about the police’s handling of the case, with the strongest criticism centered on suspicions that authorities may have attempted to conceal or mislead information without making any arrests.

As Yumnu continues to receive treatment for her injuries in Malaysia, her family has asserted that she did not jump on her own. According to them, Yumnu has stated that four individuals were present at H. Fentenoy on the night of the incident, in addition to Raud. However, the family has not disclosed the identities of these four individuals.

Many young people have taken to the streets and held protests claiming to seek justice for Yumnu, who was found fallen onto the roof from H. Fentenoy in the capital Malé City.