President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has directed the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology and the Ministry of Health to implement the recommendations of the Special Presidential Commission established to investigate the incident involving the fall of Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed on April 18, 2025.

The directive follows the release of the Commission’s final report, which identified serious procedural failures within both law enforcement and medical institutions, prompting calls for urgent systemic reform.

Among the most serious concerns was the delayed arrival of the investigating officer at the crime scene. According to the report, the officer was informed nearly an hour after the incident, by which time crucial evidence had already been compromised.

Although the scene had been partially processed before the officer arrived, his absence during the initial critical phase meant that essential information was not collected, severely limiting the investigation from the outset.

Additional failings were attributed to the conduct of the Crime Scene Officer. The Commission found that significant areas had been left unexamined, and that the officer vacated the location prematurely, neglecting core responsibilities. One of the most critical oversights involved the rooftop of H. Mitaz, where Yumnu was found collapsed. The report noted that no evidence was collected from this location, the perimeter was not secured, and the scene was left unprotected.

In response, the President has called for a comprehensive overhaul of operational procedures. He has ordered a revision of standard operating procedures (SOPs), compulsory training and orientation for relevant personnel, investigations into employee negligence, and appropriate disciplinary action. These reforms aim to prevent similar lapses in future cases.

The directive also addressed individual accountability, particularly the role of Raudh Ahmed Zilal and his brother, Daudh Ahmed Zilal. On the morning of 18 April, Raudh visited the residence at H. Maira, where, according to witness testimony, he was received by his brother Daudh. The Commission observed significant discrepancies between the statements Daudh provided to the Maldivian Police Service and those later submitted to the Commission. It concluded that Dhaudh Ahmed Zilal had knowingly issued a false declaration.

The report also noted that the injuries sustained by Yumnu Rasheed from the fall were profoundly distressing and that she was left unattended. From a humanitarian standpoint, the Commission found this inaction unacceptable. It held Raudh, his brother, and others present at H. Maira responsible for negligence and failing to report the incident to relevant authorities. The President has instructed that further investigation be pursued and that appropriate measures be taken in line with the Commission’s conclusions.

Turning to the healthcare response, the President directed the Ministry of Health to address serious procedural lapses identified at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and within its Family Protection Unit (FPU). The report expressed concern that sexual assault testing was not initiated, despite ICU staff having informed the FPU upon Yumnu’s admission. The Commission noted that FPU staff failed to act in accordance with established protocols and recommended that, in such cases, medical staff be authorised to conduct routine examinations upon request from the victim’s family, even in the absence of FPU officers.

The Commission also recommended strengthening emergency medical care for young women. It stressed the importance of documenting and photographing external injuries, collecting swabs and forensic samples without delay, and preserving all evidence from the outset. From the initial point of contact, the patient must be treated as a potential victim of injury, with a thorough assessment conducted for any signs of physical or sexual assault. To ensure this, the Commission called for strengthening the administrative capacity of the relevant units.

The President has directed the Ministry of Health to enhance the administrative infrastructure of both IGMH and the FPU, with the objective of ensuring that such critical procedures are carried out promptly, effectively, and without fail in future cases.