Police confirm ongoing travel ban against Raud

The travel ban imposed on Raud Ahmed Zilaal, who was arrested 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, is still in effect.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that there have been reports on social media, claiming that Raud has left the country.

The police institution revealed that the rumors about Raud leaving the country are false, and that the travel ban order is still in place.

The case against Raud was submitted to the Criminal Court on June 10, in connection with the incident where Yumnu Rasheed fell onto the roof of H. Mithaaz.

Raud has been charged with the offense of failing to provide assistance to a person in need without a reasonable cause.

The Prosecutor General's Office stated that the charge was filed because on April 18, at around 04:54am, despite knowing that Yumnu had fallen onto the roof of H. Mithaaz from the stairwell window on the 9th floor of H. Fentenoy, Raud did not provide assistance or report the incident to any relevant authority to seek help for Yumnu.

Raud has been arrested and released twice in Yumnu's case. He was last released from custody following a letter sent by the Prosecutor General's Office instructing the police 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.