Police sought private meeting with Yumnu, not official: family

The family of 21-year-old Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed, who was found fallen onto the roof of H. Mithaaz from the ninth floor of H. Fentenoy in the early hours of April 18, has denied police claims that they are not cooperating with the investigation. The family described the police statement as false and said it misrepresents the facts of the case.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) on Thursday revealed that they were working to obtain information needed for the investigation through Malaysian police, as the victim’s family had not facilitated an opportunity for the police to question Yumnu regarding her “fall”.

In connection with the police statement issued on Thursday, Yumnu’s family addressed a letter to Acting Commissioner of Police, Deputy Police Commissioner Ismail Naveen on Saturday.

The letter states that the claim of the family’s lack of cooperation contradicts the actual events. The family suspects that deliberately false information has been circulated regarding Yumnu’s fall. It also alleges that the police acted with a predetermined agenda by publicly stating she fell on her own, without conducting a thorough investigation.

The letter also expresses the family’s lack of confidence in the fairness of the investigation, citing the police’s conduct during the critical early stages of the case. However, it emphasizes that Yumnu’s family will not impede any investigation carried out in accordance with Maldivian laws and regulations and asserts that they have not obstructed the police thus far.

Although the police statement claimed that no information regarding Yumnu’s health condition had been shared, Yumnu’s family has stressed that the police had not requested such information.

The family stated their primary concern is ensuring Yumnu receives appropriate medical care and that justice is served. They also affirmed their commitment to cooperating fully with the police, in accordance with the laws and regulations.

The family previously stated that the police are working to prevent Yumnu from receiving justice.

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan recently affirmed that no wrongdoing has been found in the police handling of Yumnu’s fall. Meanwhile, the family has accused the police investigation of numerous deceptions, alleging that the released CCTV footage has been edited and that the original footage has been destroyed.

In addition to this, expressing dissatisfaction with how the investigation is proceeding and claiming that senior government officials are influencing the investigation, young adults have held protests. Many young people have taken to the streets and held protests claiming to seek justice for Yumnu.