Police assures public of impartial probe into safari rape case

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has assured that they will run “uninfluenced” and impartial investigations into the case of a foreigner being sexually assaulted by two local men on a safari boat, and that they will take all the required measures in connection to the case.

The authority released a statement in connection to the case after public controversy regarding the case began surfacing after the suspects in the case were released.

As such, the authority revealed that they received the report of a woman -a foreign worker residing in the Maldives- was victimized on a safari boat docked off the coast of Hulhumalé.

Police officers arrived at the wooden jetty in the suburbs, at around 5am on Friday and inquired the woman, who was with the two men accused of sexually assaulting her.

As such, the woman, 27, had informed the officers that she had gone to the safari boat with the two men, upon invitation from a friend. The two men, 39, had touched her without her consent and proceeded to sexually assault her, the woman testified.

In fear that they might continue sexually abusing her, the woman had jumped into the water and the two men had saved her, on a dinghy and dropped her off at the jetty.

On Friday morning, the victim is to have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

While the authority released the suspects on Saturday morning, the statement reads that this was done as they did not find the grounds to keep the suspects under police custody as investigation proceeds, citing insufficient evidence.

The statement further reads that the victim had been questioned regarding her statement to officers at the scene of arrest, and that she stood by her earlier statement.

Police cited the victim having urged the public to refrain from spreading her information and pictures on social media.

The authority’s Victim Support Department is providing the essential assistance to the woman.

Police urged the public to refrain from spreading inaccurate information regarding the case, especially in a way that will present more difficulties to the victim.

Media personnel have also been urged to share accurate information regarding the case and show responsible journalism.

The authority’s statement comes at a time the Human Rights and Gender Committee of the People’s Majlis has decided to investigate the case and scheduled it for Monday’s agenda.

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