Raudh released from police custody

May 22, 2025, 11:22 AM
Raudh Ahmed Zilal. -- Photo: Social Media

Raudh Ahmed Zilal. -- Photo: Social Media

Raudh Ahmed Zilal, who was arrested over the unexplained fall of Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed, has been released from police custody.

Raudh, 21, was arrested six days after he left Yumnu, 21, critically injured on the roof of a warehouse after she had a fall from a ten-storey building in Male' on April 18. He also tested positive for cannabis after the incident.

He was arrested on April 24 and detained for five days. His remand was extended by a further 10 days and again by five days on May 10 and by 20 days for a fourth time last week.

He later appealed the "unlawful" remand extension at the High Court. An appeal hearing was scheduled for today.

The court issued an arrest warrant for Raudh on April 18, but police did not arrest him. He was arrested with a second warrant after public outrage.

Raudh was arrested on charges of being intoxicated at the time of the incident, his alleged involvement in Yumnu's fall and sexual assault. Police also believe he can destroy evidence if released from custody.

However, police later dropped charges of threatening injury by reckless conduct and sexual exploitation against him.

There have been accusations of police lying to Yumnu's family, tampering with video footage and victim-blaming to cover up the case because it involved relatives of politically influential and wealthy figures.

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