Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusan has today released a timeline of events on the night of the death of an 18 year old at the Maldives National University dormitory, Dhanaal.
The death of an 18 year old girl at Dhanaal was reported in the early hours of Tuesday.
There has been widespread speculation in the public space regarding the death of the 18 year old, who had been residing at Dhanaal while studying at MNU.
Minister Ihusan revealed some details surrounding the death at a press briefing held at the President's Office this morning.
According to Ihusan, the girl had been diagnosed and had been under treatment for mental health issues.
He said that the girl had had previous contact with the Police as well. Police had responded and worked with the family to arrange psychological support.
Ihusan stated that the Victim Support Unit is staffed by trained psychologists and experts in the field. He added that the Police are currently reviewing the team's response to see if adequate support had been extended to the girl.
The Minister also released a timeline of the conversation the girl had had with the Victim Support Line on the night of her death.
Timeline of April 20/21 conversation with Victim Support Line
- 8:40pm, April 20: The girl sent a message to Victim Support Viber number, which read "I am so close to give up"
- 8:49pm: Victim Support responded to the girl
- 8:50pm: The girl replied, "I just can't control my thoughts"
- 8:53pm: Four messages sent back to back. "Please don't call anyone", "I am okay", "I am going to be okay", "I have been okay"
- 8:56pm: "I am going for work"
- Messages stopped here
- 12:38am, April 21: The girl sent a message to the Victim Support Viber number, which read "I am gone"
- 12:42am: Police replied, "What do you mean by that?" "How can I help you?", "Would you like to go to hospital or to talk to me?"
Sharing this timeline, Minister Ihusan stated that claims circulating on social media that the girl had tried and failed to call the FCPD number and 911 number at various times are false.
- No reply was received to the 12:42am text sent by Police. Fifteen minutes later, at 12:57, the girl's Viber number went offline.
- After this, Police received reports that the girl had sent a message to her brother at 12:36am, stating "I am not bothered".
- At 1:02am, Police phoned the girl's brother and updated him, and asked the family to go to Dhanaal to provide support to the girl.
- Victim Support then informed the Police Command Centre and requested officers attend.
- At 1:04am, the FCPD Investigation Officer on duty was also informed.
- At 1:08am, Police arrived at Dhanaal.
- Until 1:14am, Police worked with administrative staff of Dhanaal to identify the room the girl resided in.
- At 1:32, Police learned the room the girl resided in.
- Lights were off in the room. Police looked through a fanlight and discovered the girl already deceased.
Ihusan said that Police had gained access into the room through breaking the fanlight.
The MNU Dhanaal only houses students currently studying at the university.
