Prosecutor Demands Police Accountability as Commissioner Quits Amid Youth-Led Protests

Male’ — Police Commissioner Ali Shujau resigned Saturday under intensifying public pressure, as outrage over the case of 21-year-old Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed spilled into nightly street protests led by Gen Z activists.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu accepted Shujau’s resignation, according to a brief announcement by presidential spokesperson Heena Waleed. His departure comes just hours after the Prosecutor General’s Office issued a rare and public rebuke of police conduct, demanding an internal investigation into whether officers had broken the law or mishandled the case.

In a sharply worded statement, the Prosecutor General’s Office instructed the police to immediately correct any violations, avoid releasing information that could damage the dignity of victims, and ensure the rights of individuals are protected during ongoing investigations. Prosecutors also pledged to independently investigate complaints filed by members of the public.

The police have been under fire for their handling of Yumnu’s case since April 18, when she fell from a rooftop in Malé. Officers initially ruled out foul play and said no arrests would be made — only to reverse course days later and arrest Raud Ahmed Zilal, the man last seen with Yumnu.

Others present that night — several of whom are linked to powerful families and President Muizzu’s political circle — were placed under travel bans and had their phones seized. Among those named are Yusuf Yassar Abdul Ghafoor, Aishath Layali Iqbal, Izdian Mohamed Maumoon, Yusuf Ahmed Akram, Aminath Junaira Jamsheed, Hussain Hamees Ali, and Ijaz Jaaiz.

The police’s inconsistent narrative and selective disclosure of information have fueled allegations of a cover-up, with young protesters accusing authorities of protecting the well-connected. One of their core demands — the resignation of Commissioner Shujau — has now been met, but calls for deeper accountability are only growing louder.

Protesters have slammed the police for releasing private details about Yumnu, mishandling evidence, and undermining public trust. Night after night, young Maldivians have filled the streets, demanding an end to what they see as a justice system rigged for the privileged.

With public anger showing no sign of fading, the resignation of the commissioner may mark only the first step in a reckoning that now extends far beyond a single case — touching the very foundations of accountability and rule of law in the Maldives.