President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has today instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs and Professional Development and the Ministry of Health to take necessary measures to implement the recommendations highlighted in the report of the Special Commission established by the President to investigate the incident that occurred in Male’ on April 18, 2025. In his directive to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Professional Development, the President highlighted the following issues regarding the conduct of the Maldives Police Service in this case:
- The Investigation Officer was informed about the incident of Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed falling on the roof of H. Mitaaz an hour after the Command Center of the Maldives Police Service received the information. As a result, the Investigation Officer arrived at the crime scene after the Scene of Crime Officer had already collected evidence, clues, and processed the crime scene;
- Due to the absence of an investigating officer at the scene even after the crime scene processing was completed, comprehensive information and evidence needed for the investigation could not be obtained at that time;
- The Scene of Crime Officer who went to the crime scene did not adequately process all areas of the crime scene and left the scene after a short period without performing many of the tasks required in the capacity of a Scene of Crime Officer;
- No effort was made to obtain any evidence from the roof of H. Mitaaz, one of the most important locations in the case where Hawwa Yumnu was found. It was also noted that no crime scene boundary was established, and the crime scene was not secure established, and the crime scene was not secured.
Therefore, to prevent the recurrence of these issues highlighted by the Presidential Commission regarding the Maldives Police Service, the President has instructed to revise police SOPs, familiarize and train staff, and to investigate and take disciplinary action against negligent staff in this incident, as per the recommendations of the Presidential Commission.
Additionally, as witnesses’ testimonies indicate that when Raudhu Ahmed Zilaal of G. Eriadhoo went to H. Maaira on the morning of April 18, 2025, his brother Dhawood Ahmed came downstairs, and given the discrepancies between Dhawood Ahmed’s statements to the Maldives Police Service during the investigation and to the Presidential Commission, the Commission noted that a false statement may have been given to the investigation. Furthermore, considering that leaving Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed without treatment for injuries sustained from falling onto the roof of H. Mitaaz is unacceptable from a humanitarian perspective, the Commission found that Dhawood Ahmed and those who met Raudhu Ahmed Zilaal at H. Maaira on the morning of April 18, 2025, were equally negligent as Raudhu Ahmed Zilaal in not reporting the incident to relevant authorities. The President has also instructed to take necessary measures in line with the Commission’s decision to further investigate this matter.
In his directive to the Ministry of Health regarding this case, the President highlighted the following issues concerning the conduct of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and its Family Protection Unit (FPU):
- When the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of IGMH informed the FPU to check if Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed had suffered any sexual assault, the FPU staff did not attend, and the matter was left unaddressed. This is contrary to the procedure outlined in the FPU’s SOP for such situations. The Commission believes that even if FPU staff did not attend, doctors should be able to conduct such tests without FPU staff if requested by the victim’s family;
- When a young injured woman is brought to IGMH for emergency treatment, even during initial care, she should be treated as a victim of assault. Any visible injuries on her body should be identified, photographed if there are any marks, and samples for “vaginal swab,” “anal swab,” “buccal swab,” and other necessary tests should be collected and preserved as evidence, assuming potential sexual assault. The Commission believes it is important to strengthen the administrative procedures of the FPU to ensure this can be done promptly.
Regarding these issues highlighted in the Presidential Commission’s report, the President has instructed the Ministry of Health to take necessary measures to strengthen the administrative procedures of IGMH and its FPU to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
