Charge carrying potential one-month jail sentence filed against Raud
Raud has been charged with failing to provide assistance to Yumnu , who fell from the ninth floor of a building
Raud Ahmed Zilaal is accused of involvement in Yumnu Rasheed's "fall"
The Criminal Court has filed charges against Raud Ahmed Zilaal, G. Eriyadhoo, in connection with the case where 21-year-old Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed was found fallen from the ninth floor of H. Fentenoy onto the roof of an adjacent warehouse in the early hours of April 18.
Raud has been charged with the offense of failing to provide assistance to a person in need without reasonable cause.
The Prosecutor General's Office stated that the charge is being filed because Raud, knowing that Yumnu had fallen onto the roof of H. Mithaaz through a stairwell window on the ninth floor of H. Fentenoy at around 04:54am on April 18, failed to assist her or report the incident to relevant authorities, seeking help.
Raud was arrested and released twice in connection with Yumnu's “fall”. He was last released from custody following a letter sent by the PG Office to the Maldives Police Service (MPS) with instructions to do so.
Raud was not arrested under the first warrant issued for his arrest in connection with Yumnu's fall. However, he was taken to the police station for questioning. His urine test at the time came back positive for drugs.
As criticism began to mount over the police's handling of the case, on April 24, after arresting Raud, the police stated that he was suspected of being involved in Yumnu's fall. The police also alleged that Raud knew about Yumnu's fall.
Raud faces a sentence of one month and six days behind bars.
The PG Office stated that filing criminal charges against a person does not mean they are guilty. They noted that charges are filed in court when the Prosecutor General believes, based on the evidence and circumstances of the case, that there is sufficient evidence to prove the charge. Article 51 (h) of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives states that every individual has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
On April 26, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu established a Presidential Commission to investigate Yumnu's fall incident. The main purpose of the commission was to uncover the truth behind Yumnu's fall.
Although the police made these accusations when requesting Raud's detention, they had previously stated that it was not believed that any other person or group was involved in Yumnu's fall. The police have also released the details of seven other individuals who were with Yumnu that night.
