A no-confidence motion has been moved against Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen in connection with the case of Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed, who was found with serious injuries after falling from a building in Male'.
Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s parliamentary group leader Hithadhoo South MP Ibrahim Nazil announced the no-confidence motion at a press conference today. He said 12 MDP MPs had signed the motion.
Nazil said the decision was taken after considering the youth protests, journalists' reports and further information obtained by the party. Ameen has been accused of influencing the investigation.
Speaking on the reasons for the motion, Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, who represents Yumnu's constituency, said Ameen had contacted senior police officials while police were raiding his home Maandhooge Dhekunu and refused to provide security footage of the home after saying the cameras were damaged.
"These things indicate to us that [Minister Ameen] had abused his position. So the MDP parliamentary group has no confidence in him at the moment," Meekail stated.
Before Yumnu fell from Henveiru Fentenoy house on April 18, she and Raudh Zilal, arrested over the case, went to Galolhu Kashiveli house and Maandhooge Dhekunu.
They first went to Maandhooge Dhekunu at around 12:00 am. Ameen was abroad at the time. It is alleged that Yumnu and Raudh went to Ameen's house and attended a "drugs party" before the incident.
Police initially kept it a secret and then revealed it to the media and searched Ameen's house six days later.
The police were criticized for the delay in searching Ameen's house. They were also accused of allowing evidence to be destroyed.
After searching the house, police said they found no evidence connected to the incident.
So far, only Raudh has been arrested in connection with the incident. He was remanded in custody for five days by the Criminal Court on April 25.
However, the public has been questioning the fact that the people who attended the "drugs party" at the house of the minister have not been arrested. This is one of the demands at the nightly youth protests being held in Male'.
They have also demanded Ameen's resignation. But he told Adhadhu that he was not considering resignation.
