The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has launched an investigation into how authorities are handling the case of a 21-year-old woman who was found fallen on a rooftop in Malé last Friday.

In a statement issued today, the Commission said it was looking into concerns raised on social media, including allegations of police negligence and claims of interference by individuals with connections to senior Government officials. HRCM indicated that these allegations would be a key focus of their inquiry.

The Commission noted that it had made several attempts to obtain a statement from the victim’s family and had only received their response earlier today. According to HRCM, the family expressed concerns over the conduct of the police and other relevant authorities.

The Commission raised concerns over the selective release of evidence during the early stages of the investigation, warning that it could compromise the overall inquiry. They pointed to the police’s decision to only present external CCTV footage of the building where the woman was last seen, suggesting that this had negatively impacted the dignity of individuals visible in the video.

HRCM also criticised what it described as unequal treatment of those connected to the case, noting that the police revealed information about the victim during their press conference but withheld details about others allegedly involved.

The statement further indicated that the Commission was troubled by the way police shared information with journalists, suggesting a possible interpretation of the incident before the investigation had reached a conclusive stage. HRCM suggested this approach risked eroding public trust and casting doubt on the integrity of the investigation.

The Commission urged the Maldives Police Service to ensure the inquiry is conducted thoroughly, impartially, and without outside influence. It also called on the public to avoid sharing images or videos of the victim on social media, citing the importance of respecting her dignity and that of her family.