Appointment of all-male inquiry commission in sensitive case involving female victim sparks criticism

The appointment of an all-male presidential commission to conduct an inquiry into a sensitive case involving a young woman found injured on the rooftop of a building in Male’ has met with criticism.

21-year-old Mariyam Yumnu was found injured on the rooftop of a warehouse in the Henveiru district at around 07:30 am on April 18. According to the police, their investigation uncovered that she fell from a skylight on the ninth-floor stairwell of the adjacent building, H. Fentenoy, but that there was no evidence of foul play.

But before her fall, she had been part of a group of at least nine individuals who were at Ma. Maandhooge Dhekunuge for a party, where they are believed to have possibly consumed drugs and alcohol. There are also allegations that she may have been sexually assaulted prior to her fall.

There soon emerged allegations of a police coverup after it became known that the individuals involved have family links to influential figures, including a cabinet minister and a diplomat.

The case of the young woman, who spent nearly three hours on the rooftop of a warehouse before a neighbor saw her and alerted the authorities, has sparked serial protests in Male’. The protestors, a vast majority of them young men and women, have been demanding justice for her, and the resignation of top government and police officials over the alleged coverup.

On Saturday, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu appointed a three-member presidential commission to conduct an independent inquiry into the case. All three members of the commission are men; Dr. Mohamed Munavvar, Brigadier General (Retired) Ahmed Mohamed, and Dr. Mohamed Habeeb.

The lack of women in an inquiry into a sensitive case involving a young female victim has sparked criticism.

Those who have voiced criticism regarding the decision includes former Maldivian First Lady Fazna Ahmed.

In a post via Facebook on Sunday, she questioned why a commission charged with looking into a case involving a young female victim has neither a woman nor a youth member.

Former Heritage Minister Yumna Maumoon also questioned the lack of female representation at the commission.

އަންހެނަކަށް އަނިޔާވެގެން ނުވަތަ އަނިޔާކޮށްގެން އުޅޭ މި ފަދަ މައްސަލައެއް ބަލަން އުފެއްދެވި ކޮމިޝަނެއްގައި އެއްވެސް އަންހެނަކު ނުހިމެނުއްވީ ކީއްވެބާ؟ ޒުވާނަކުވެސް ހިމަނުއްވާފައެއް ނެތް.#JusticeForYumnu

— Yumna Maumoon ???????? ???????????? (@yumna_maumoon) April 27, 2025

Speaking to reporters before boarding a plan to Malaysia on Sunday, President Muizzu said that the commission will not face any obstacles in conducting an independent inquiry and uncovering the truth.

“They will not face any form of obstacle from anywhere to uncover the truth or look into what needs to be looked into. No such obstacles can even be put before them. There’s no one they cannot question. There’s no door they cannot knock. They have also been empowered to seek foreign expertise if they need to,” he said.

President Muizzu said he wishes for the investigation to be conducted in a transparent and responsible manner. He provided assurance that the rule of law will be applied to all without discrimination. 

“All the questions must be answered. Everything must be made clear,” he said.

Yumnu, who sustained serious injuries in the fall, was flown to a hospital in Malaysia on Saturday. The family received USD 25,000 (MVR 385,500) from the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), and the rest of the money needed for her medical treatment was raised through a fundraiser.

The police had initially refused to name anyone else except for Yumnu. It wasn’t until six days later – on April 24 – that the police finally named eight people who had been with Yumnu in the party as persons of interest. Raudh Ahmed Zilal, 21; Izdhiyaan Mohamed Maumoon, 28; Aishath Layaaly Iqbal, 22; Yoosuf Ahmed Akram, 22; Yoosuf Yassar Abdul Ghafoor, 28; Aminath Junaina Jamsheed, 24; Hussain Hamees Ali, 28; and Ijaz Jaiz, 24.

Meanwhile, the house where the group held the “party” was confirmed as the family residence of Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen, who admitted that two of his nephews were among the group of individuals involved, but denied he knew anything about what he described as the “gathering.”

The same day, the police arrested Raudh, who had been with Yumnu in the last moments before her fall, for lack of cooperation. They also filed for court warrants to search the other two residences that Yumnu had been in before she went to Fentenoy – Ma. Maandhooge Dhekunu and G. Kashiveli.

The police have said that both Yumnu and Raudh were heavily intoxicated at the time, and had both tested positive for narcotics. Clips of CCTV footage shared by police show Yumnu appeared to have trouble walking, and even fell down on the ground at one point.

The court order issued on Friday for Raudh’s remand extension by five days shows investigators believe Yumnu and Raudh had argued before she fell – something the police hadn’t mentioned in two press briefings held in the wake of the incident – a closed-door one on Tuesday and the open one on Thursday.

It also says that when questioned shortly after Yumnu’s fall, Raudh had responded with “I don’t know where she is” and “I think she fell.”

The youth-led protest movement formed in the wake of the incident continues to demand the resignation of Transport Minister Ameen, and Home Minister Ali Ihusan.

Meanwhile, the then-Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Shujau bowed under pressure and tendered his resignation on Saturday night, following four straight nights of protest, and has been replaced with Ismail Naveen as acting CP.

Protestors continue to demand the resignation of other state officials implicated in the case, and a free and fair investigation into the case, including the arrest and prosecution of everyone who had been with her before her fall, as well as an independent inquiry into police conduct in the case.