PGO Issues Directives to Police Amid Public Criticism of Investigation into Woman’s Fall

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has issued firm directives to the Maldives Police Service (MPS) in response to public criticism over the investigation into the fall of a 21-year-old woman from a building in Malé.

In a statement released yesterday, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) instructed the Maldives Police Service (MPS) to investigate several persons of interest who refused to provide urine samples for testing, amid suspicions they were under the influence.

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ނޫސްބަޔާން: 18 އެޕްރީލް 2025 ދުވަހުގެ ހެނދުނުގެ ވަގުތެއްގައި، ޒަޚަމްތަކަކާއެކު ޒުވާނަކު މާލޭ ގެއެއްގެ ފުރާޅުމަތީގައި އޮތްވައި ފެނިފައިވާ މައްސަލަhttps://t.co/h3j0LUUOFH pic.twitter.com/xBzoLA7miR— Prosecutor General’s Office (@PGO_MV) April 26, 2025

Police had earlier stated that several individuals who were with the victim and Raud Ahmed Zilal — the man who was with her in her final moments before the fall — had refused to provide urine samples. No arrests were made in connection with this refusal, prompting public criticism over the handling of the investigation.

In response, the Prosecutor General’s Office has now instructed the police to treat the refusal to provide urine samples as a separate investigation. 

Additional instructions issued by the Prosecutor General’s Office include:

• Ensuring that no further personal information, photos, or videos of her are disclosed in a way that could harm her reputation or dignity.
• Directing the police to review and amend their operational procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.
• Emphasising the importance of ensuring equal and unbiased disclosure of information during criminal investigations, while respecting the rights guaranteed by law.
• Calling for transparent and complete information to be shared, ensuring it does not obstruct ongoing investigations.
• Instructing the police to investigate potential negligence or procedural violations by officers during the investigation.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has pledged to address any public complaints related to the investigation and urged journalists and the public to disseminate information responsibly, respecting the rights of victims.

In the wake of ongoing public criticism, Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau resigned from his post last night.