President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has today instructed relevant authorities to implement the recommendations made in the investigative report prepared by the Presidential Commission established to investigate the incident involving Hawwa Yumn Rasheed, who fell from a building in Malé.

The President’s Office stated tonight that the President has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Health to implement the findings and take the necessary measures as outlined in the report of the commission established to investigate the incident that occurred in Malé on April 18 this year.

In his directive to the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology concerning the police’s handling of the case, the President has highlighted several key points:

- The Police Command Center informed the Investigation Officer about Yumnu being found on the roof of H. Mitaaz an hour after the information was first received. This delay in relaying information resulted in the investigation officer arriving at the scene after the Scene of Crime Officer had already collected evidence and completed processing the scene.

- Because there was no investigating officer present during the crime scene processing, essential information and evidence needed for the investigation were not obtained at that time.

- The Scene of Crime Officer who attended the scene did not adequately process all areas and left the scene after a short time without completing many of the duties expected in such a case.

- There was no effort made to obtain evidence from the roof of H. Mitaaz, the most crucial location in the case. No crime scene boundary was established, nor was the scene secured.

To prevent the recurrence of such lapses, the President has instructed the revision of police SOPs, proper familiarization and training of staff. Furthermore, he has instructed disciplinary action to be taken against negligent personnel, in line with the Commission’s recommendations.

The President has also instructed the Ministry to investigate the visit made by Raudh Ahmed Zilaal, the primary suspect taken into custody in this case, to H. Maairaa on the morning of the incident. Witness statements indicated that his brother, Daud Ahmed, was seen coming downstairs at that time. The commission noted that there are discrepancies between Daud’s statements to the police and to the Presidential Commission suggesting that he may have provided false testimony. This matter is also to be investigated as recommended by the commission.

The commission noted that Daud, and others who met Raudh at H. Maairaa that morning were complicit in not reporting the incident to the authorities. They emphasized that Yumn being left without medical assistance for a long period of time after sustaining injuries from the fall was an inhumane act. The President called on the ministry to look into this as well.

Following the publication of the Commission’s findings, Daud was dismissed from his post as Under Secretary for Strategic Communication at the President’s Office on June 19. He had been suspended from the position since the time of the incident. At the time of the incidence Daud was also serving as the President of the National Youth Advisory Committee. However, amid public criticism, Daud offered to resign. Hence President Muizzu removed him from the committee on April 24.

The President also issued instructions to the Ministry of Health based on the Commission’s findings, particularly in relation to the actions of IGMH and its Family Protection Unit (FPU). The following issues were highlighted:

- After IGMH’s ICU requested the FPU to assess whether Yumn had suffered sexual assault, no FPU staff attended. This was in violation of the unit’s SOP, which outlines the required response in such cases. The Commission stated that even in the absence of FPU staff, doctors should be able to conduct such tests if requested by the victim’s family.

- The Commission noted that when a young woman with visible injuries is brought in for emergency treatment, she should be treated as a victim of potential assault from the outset. Visible injuries should be identified, photographed, and the proper collection of samples, including vaginal, anal, and buccal swabs should be ensured. Evidence collected in such cases must be stored correctly, and the FPU should facilitate this without delay.

According to the Commission, this case points to the need to strengthen the administrative procedures of the Family Protection Unit.

The investigative report prepared by the Presidential Commission on Yumn’s case was made public on June 17.