Majlis committee places safari sexual assault case on Monday's agenda

The Human Rights and Gender Committee of the People’s Majlis is scheduled to investigate the case of a foreigner being sexually assaulted by two local men on a safari boat, on Monday’s agenda.

The case is scheduled for 2pm, Monday.

In a tweet following the publication by the parliament’s legislative department, MP for Addu-Meedhoo constituency, Rozaina Adam applauded the committee’s chair and MP for Hinnavaru constituency, Jeehan Mahmood for putting the rape case on Monday’s agenda of the committee meeting.

She further revealed that the committee’s Deputy Chair and MP for Vaikaradhoo constituency, Hussain Ziyad will be chairing the meeting.

Rozaina assured that the matter will be looked into, thoroughly.

Police arrested two 39-year-olds under the suspicion of being involved in a sexual assault case reported from a safari boat, docked off Hulhumalé coast.

Police received reports of two individuals having sexually assaulted a foreign woman on board the safari boat at around 5am on Friday.

Officers raided the ship not long after and took the Maldivian men under police custody.

Police revealed on Saturday morning that the two suspects were released from their custody, having cited “insufficient” evidence to keep them detained as investigation proceeds.

The investigation continues, despite the suspects being released.

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has also begun probing the case.

This comes at a time cases of sexual assault have been on the rise, despite the country being in the face of the global Covid-19 pandemic.