MDP files no-confidence motion against Minister Ameen

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has filed a no-confidence motion against Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen – who has become embroiled in the case of a young woman found injured on the rooftop of a building in Male’ earlier this month.

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.

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 Ameen, who admitted that two of his nephews – Izdhiyaan and Yoosuf Ahmed Akram - 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 family links between the persons of interest in Yumnu’s fall and influential figures, including Ameen, and the seemingly sluggish investigation into the case has sparked allegations of a police coverup.

On Tuesday, the MDP parliamentary group submitted a no-confidence motion against Ameen. The motion is endorsed by the 12 parliamentarians who represent MDP, just barely making the 10 endorsements required to submit a no-confidence motion.

The motion refers to the alleged drug use at Ameen’s residence, and the involvement of two of his nephews in the case.

MDP alleges that the police were directed to hide the involvement of Ameen’s residence and his nephews, noting the police did not name any of the other persons involved or confirm that the group met at Ameen’s residence until six days later.

The party also alleges that Ameen attempted to influence the investigation and shield his nephews.

MDP referred to several constitutional provisions regarding the conduct of cabinet ministers.

• Article 132: The members of the Cabinet shall comply with all the provisions of the Constitution and the law, and shall faithfully discharge the responsibilities assigned to them by the President.
• Article 136 (a): A member of the Cabinet shall not hold any other public office or office of profit, actively engage in a business or in the practice of any profession, or any other income generating employment, be employed by any person, buy or lease any property belonging to the State, or have a financial interest in any transaction between the State and another party.

The MDP said it believes that having Ameen remain in the cabinet could result in loss of the rights of the people and disrupt the country’s safety and security.

MDP Parliamentary Group has today submitted a no confidence motion against Transport Minister Ameen. pic.twitter.com/Q2fG4NR2u4

— Meekail Naseem (@MickailNaseem) April 29, 2025

The police said on Monday that they had been unable to obtain CCTV footage from Ameen’s residence because they were told that the cameras in the house were broken.

The case of Yumnu, 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, including Ameen and Home Minister Ali Ihusan.

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 April 25 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.

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

A couple of hours later, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu appointed presidential commission to conduct an independent inquiry into the case.

While the MDP has enough votes to submit a no-confidence motion against Ameen, it does not have enough to actually have it passed at the Parliament, in which the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) holds a supermajority.