Police chief resigns as "nepo baby" protests enter fourth night

Shortly after President Dr Mohamed Muizzu accepted Shujau's resignation, the home minister announced his replacement as Deputy Commissioner Faruhad Fikury, a veteran officer accused of destroying evidence in a rape case in 2014.

Faruhad's appointment was reversed an hour later. Deputy Commissioner Ismail Naveen, who has been leading the investigation into the woman's fall, was appointed acting police chief.

Commissioner Shujau's resignation was among 10 demands made by protesters on Friday night, at one of the largest street demonstrations in the Maldives since Muizz came to power. Other demands include a police apology for "lying" about the political connections of those at the party, and the resignation of the home minister and transport minister, who owns the building in which the first party of the night took place. The protesters also called for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the police investigation. 

On Saturday, the prosecutor general ordered an investigation into alleged negligence in police handling of the case. The PG office instructed police not reveal any further information that "could damage the reputation and dignity" of the young woman.

The protest continued in Malé's main road on Saturday night. By 10:15pm, the audience on the Raajje TV protest livestream on X reached 157,000 viewers - more than the half the country's population.

Meanwhile, the woman's sister Nathasha Ahmed appeared on a TikTok fundraiser hosted by Maldivian social media influencer Shehenaaz Moosa, seeking funds for medical treatment in Malaysia. The woman was being medically transferred on Saturday night. Nathasha shared a letter from the Malaysian hospital reviewing her sister's clinical status, including the treatment of internal fractures and a prospective craniotomy. Government health insurance and social security do not cover the full cost, Nathasha said.

The fundraising target of MVR 704,500 (US$45,700) was reached in two hours.