Home Minister Ali Ihusaan has disclosed a detailed timeline of events leading to the death of an 18-year-old student at a Maldives National University hostel, seeking to dispel widespread speculation and misinformation circulating online.
The student was found dead late Monday night at the university’s accommodation facility in Malé, an incident now under active police investigation.
According to the minister, the student had been undergoing treatment for a mental health condition and had prior interactions with police, who had previously worked alongside her family to facilitate care and support.
Timeline of final communications
Authorities revealed that the student contacted the police Victim Support line on the evening of April 20, expressing distress.
- 8:40 PM: She messaged, “I am so close to give up.”
- 8:49 PM: Victim Support responded.
- 8:50 PM: She replied, “I just can’t control my thoughts.”
- 8:53 PM: Multiple follow-up messages indicated she did not want anyone contacted and claimed she was “okay.”
- 8:56 PM: She said she was going for a walk.
- 12:38 AM: After several hours, she sent a final message stating, “I am gone.”
- 12:42 AM: Police attempted to respond and offer assistance, but received no reply.
Her Viber status went offline at 12:57 AM, shortly after the last message. Police then contacted her family, with her brother alerted at 1:02 AM, before officers were dispatched to the hostel.
Rapid response but tragic outcome
Police arrived at the hostel by 1:08 AM and began searching for the student’s room with assistance from management. The room was located at 1:32 AM, where officers discovered her deceased after gaining entry.
Minister Ihusaan stressed that the Victim Support unit includes trained psychologists and specialists, adding that an internal review is underway to assess whether the response met expected standards.
Rumours rejected as investigation continues
The minister firmly rejected claims circulating on social media that the student had repeatedly contacted via call to emergency services or the Family and Child Protection Department on the night of her death.
Police have also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information, warning that such content could distress the victim’s family and compromise the investigation.
The hostel, which accommodates students from across the Maldives, remains at the center of the ongoing inquiry as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case.
