Izdhiyaan fired, Daudh suspended amid drug-fueled party claims

One President’s Office official was dismissed and another was suspended on Thursday, after they were accused of hosting drug-fueled parties – allegations that emerged after a young woman was found seriously injured on the rooftop of a warehouse in Male’ last weekend.

The 21-year-old woman was found injured on the rooftop of a warehouse in the Henveiru district at around 07:23 am on Friday, April 18. According to the police, their investigation uncovered that she fell from a skylight on the ninth-floor stairwell of the adjacent building, and that there was no evidence of foul play.

The police also said the young woman had been “partying” with a group of seven other people before her fall; five men and two women.

In a closed-door press briefing on Tuesday, the police had said that all eight were seen arrived at a house “in central Male’” for the “party” at around 12:30 am Friday. This house was later confirmed as the residence of Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen, who also confirmed on Wednesday that two of his nephews were among the group of individuals involved, but denied he knew anything about the “gathering.”

Allegations emerged that the group of individuals who were with the young woman also include officials from the President’s Office, and relatives of influential individuals.

Videos and photos also emerged appearing to show the group of individuals, including Ameen’s nephew and President’s Office undersecretary Izdhiyaam Mohamed Maumoon, as well as another undersecretary, Daudh Ahmed, “partying.”

In a series of posts via X on Thursday morning, Heena Waleed, the chief spokesperson at the President’s Office, Izdhiyaan had been fired from his role as the undersecretary for strategic communications at the President’s Office.

ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާގެ އޮފީހުގެ އަންޑަރ ސެކްރެޓެރީ ފޮރ ސްޓްރެޓެޖިކް ކޮމިޔުނިކޭޝަން މަގާމުގައި ހުންނެވި އިޒްދިޔާން މުޙައްމަދު މައުމޫން، އެ މަގާމުން މިއަދު ވަކިކުރައްވައިފި.

— Heena Waleed (@MvSpokesperson) April 24, 2025

She added that Daudh had been dismissed from the National Youth Advisory Committee by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu after he tendered his resignation from his role as president and member of the committee.

"ދިވެހި ޒުވާނުންގެ ޤައުމީ ލަފާދޭ ކޮމިޓީ"ގެ ރައީސް ކަމުގެ މަގާމުގައި ހުންނެވި ދާއޫދު އަޙްމަދު، އެ ކޮމިޓީއިން އިސްތިޢުފާ ދެއްވުމަށް ހުށަހެޅުއްވުމާއި ގުޅިގެން، ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ އެ ކޮމިޓީއިން މިއަދު އޭނާ ވަކިކުރައްވައިފި.

— Heena Waleed (@MvSpokesperson) April 24, 2025

But while Izdhiyaan was fired, Daudh was only suspended without pay from his role as undersecretary for digital strategy at the President’s Office.

ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާގެ އޮފީހުގެ އަންޑަރ ސެކްރެޓެރީ ފޮރ ޑިޖިޓަލް ސްޓްރެޓެޖީގެ މަގާމުގައި ހުންނެވި ދާއޫދު އަޙްމަދު، މުސާރަ ނުލިބޭ ގޮތަށް މިއަދުން ފެށިގެން އެ މަގާމުން ސަސްޕެންޑް ކުރައްވައިފި.

— Heena Waleed (@MvSpokesperson) April 24, 2025

In a press briefing on Thursday morning, the police confirmed that Izdhiyaan had been one of the individuals who had been “partying” with the young woman before her fall. Meanwhile, Daudh is the sibling brother of Raudh Ahmed Zilal, who the police said was the last person who was known to have been with the young woman before she fell.

The police had previously chosen only the identity of the young woman, and not the others involved.

But in a reversal of their stand on Thursday, the police disclosed the identities of all involved and also publicized CCTV footage from the leadup to the woman’s fall.

However, the police said that there weren’t any cameras on the ninth floor – from where the young woman fell. One of the clips screened by police shows Raudh on the stairs on the eighth floor at around 04:25 am – which is the moment the police believe she fell.

Police said he rushed out of the building following unsuccessful attempts trying to find her.

The police said that both Raudh and the young woman had tested positive for narcotics. The man tested positive for cannabis. Meanwhile, two of the people who were with them refused to provide their urine samples. The police did not say if they conducted blood tests to test for a broader range of drugs.

All seven who were with her, including Raudh, have no-fly orders against them.

The young woman sustained serious injuries from the fall. She was initially treated on a ventilator but was later reported to be breathing on her own. However, her condition remains serious and she is being treated in the ICU of Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Mounting public anger over the case prompted a large crowd of protesters, the vast majority of them young men and women, to gather outside the Sergeant Adam Haleem Criminal Investigation Building in Male’ on Wednesday night demanding justice for the young woman.