A special presidential commission established by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has concluded that individuals who voluntarily became intoxicated must bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions in the case of Yumna Rasheed, who fell from a building in Malé.

The tragic incident occurred on April 18, when Yumna fell from a building in Malé. Due to growing public criticism over the police investigation, President Muizzu established a special presidential commission at the end of that month to examine the case. After approximately two months of investigation, the commission released its report today.

Key Findings

The report states that on the night of the incident, both Yumna and her companion Raudu Ahmed Zilal from G. Eyriyadhoo were in an intoxicated state, as evidenced by their behavior and confirmed by toxicology reports.

“Since Raudu and Yumna became intoxicated by their own choice, they must bear responsibility for the consequences,” the commission stated.

The report indicates that Raudu, who was with Yumna in an intoxicated state on the night of the incident, showed negligence that may have contributed to Yumna falling from the stairwell.

Investigation Details

Raudu told the commission that he did not remember the events of that night. Based on this testimony, the commission stated it cannot definitively determine whether Raudu deliberately pushed Yumna from the stairwell or not.

However, the commission noted that based on their findings, the opportunity for Yumna to be pushed appeared limited. The report highlighted four key points:

  1. No Conflict: There was no dispute or violence between Raudu and Yumna that night, and Yumna went to the ninth floor of the building of her own free will without any coercion.
  2. Voluntary Presence: Since Yumna went to the house voluntarily, there is no evidence from footage or witness testimony that Raudu brought her there with the intention of harming her.
  3. Search Efforts: When Yumna went missing, Raudu made efforts to find her, repeatedly calling others and checking various locations.
  4. No Evidence of Violence: Apart from injuries consistent with the fall, Yumna had no other injuries, and medical reports and witness testimony show no signs that anyone attempted to deliberately push her.

Commission’s Conclusion

The commission concluded that Yumna likely fell from the stairwell accidentally, with no evidence of another person’s involvement. The report also states that there is no evidence Raudu deliberately pushed Yumna from the balcony.

However, the commission could not definitively determine whether Yumna jumped from the stairwell of her own accord. The report notes that CCTV footage and witness testimony provide no evidence that Yumna was attempting to harm herself due to any distress.

The commission believes Yumna fell from the stairwell accidentally, as there is no evidence of deliberate action or suicide, and given her behavior that night and her intoxicated state.

Legal Action

While the commission found negligence on Raudu’s part, the Prosecutor General’s Office has filed charges against him for failing to provide adequate assistance to someone in need without reasonable cause. He has since been released from custody.

The basic penalty for this charge is one month and five days of imprisonment.

The PG’s Office stated that Raudu is being charged because, despite knowing that Yumna had fallen and failing to provide her with assistance, he also did not report the incident to any relevant authority seeking help for her.

Commission Members

The presidential commission was established due to questions raised about the police investigation and growing public distrust. The commission was chaired by former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Munawwar and included Brigadier General Retired Ahmed Mohamed, Dr. Moosa Murad, Jabeen Mohamed, and Aiminath Eenas.