PGO: Raudh’s release ordered as remand could exceed likely sentence for charges

Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) said they ordered the release of Raudh Ahmed Zilal – the last person known to have been with a young woman who was found injured on a rooftop of building in Male’ on April 18 – over the possibility of his remand exceeding the likely sentence for the charges he is expected to face.

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

Raudh, who had been with Yumnu at Fentenoy in the last moments before her fall, had been questioned by the police and tested for drugs – tests that turned out positive.

But he wasn’t arrested until nearly a week later, on April 24. Police said at the time that they were arresting him for lack of cooperation.

He was released from Dhoonidhoo Custodial Jail on May 22, but rearrested mere hours later, under a new court warrant - decision that the police said was to “complete some procedural matters.”

A police spokesperson confirmed to Sun on Monday afternoon that the agency made a formal request with the PGO for criminal charges against Raudh on Saturday, May 24.

However, the specifics of the charges were not disclosed.

Police, on Tuesday, said PGO had directed them to release Raudh from custody following a review of the submitted documents requesting charges. As such, Raudh was released from custody last night.

PGO’s spokesperson and public prosecutor Shafeeu Ahmed commented on the Office’s decision via a post on X in which he said PGO issues such instructions when a suspect’s remand exceeds the likely sentence for the charges they are expected to face.

The case of Yumnu, who spent nearly three hours on the rooftop of a warehouse before a neighbor saw her and alerted the authorities, had sparked serial protests in Male’.

Before her fall, Yumnu had been part of a group of at least eight other individuals who were at Ma. Maandhooge Dhekunuge – the family residence of Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen - for a party, where they are believed to have possibly consumed drugs and alcohol.

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 sparked allegations of a police coverup and serial protests in the Maldivian capital.

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, 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.

Ameen, who admitted that two of his nephews – Izdhiyaan and Yoosuf Ahmed Akram - were among the group of individuals involved,  denied he knew anything about what he described as the “gathering.”

Yumnu, who sustained serious injuries in the fall including multiple fractures, is being treated in a hospital in Malaysia with funding from state and donations from the general public.

In a TV interview earlier in May, a family member said that Yumnu had told them that she did not jump from the building but was pushed. She also told her family that she was familiar with Fentenoy, and was invited to visit the residence by Yassar. She also said that there were four other people there with Raudh and herself.

According to the Police, two officers have been stationed in Kuala Lumpur since the day of her arrival, and that Yumnu’s family has been uncooperative due to which they have been unable to obtain her statement. 

The police said they had therefore decided to seek the assistance of Malaysian authorities to interview Yumnu.

But in a statement last weekend, Yumnu's family said the police never made a formal request to interview Yumnu.