Speaker urges not to believe that rape suspects' release was influenced

Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Former President Mohamed Nasheed has urged against the belief that the two Maldivian men accused of sexually assaulting a foreign woman on board a safari docked off the coast of Hulhumalé over the past weekend, were released from policy custody due to the political influence of a member of the parliament.

Debates were held on an emergency motion submitted over the case, during Monday’s parliament sitting.

Submitting the motion, MP for Nolhivaram constituency Mohamed Nasheed Abdulla revealed that the police’s actions in the case hinder the victim’s rights and added that he does not believe the investigations into the case will be carried out impartially, due to political influence.

Highlighting that some members, representing both the government coalition and opposition, have been asserting that the suspects were released because one of them is the spouse of a fellow parliamentarian, the speaker cited the Maldives Police Service (MPS) having revealed that they were released after probing the case, as much as they could by then.

With this being said, Nasheed urged the parliamentarians to not believe that their release is linked to political influence from an MP.

Further, the speaker noted that it is unacceptable for MPs to influence or use their power for undue benefits, over any case being investigated by any institution.

This will not be accepted by the parliament, even a little, said Nasheed.

Engaging in debates on the motion, several MPs raised concern that there are ways to take testimonies in such cases as per the laws of the Maldives and that letting the suspects go citing insufficient evidence, is against the spirit of the Maldivian law.

This concern was raised by a number of parliamentarians’ present.

Early Friday, police officers arrested two Maldivian men, 39, under suspicions of sexually assaulting a foreign woman, 27, on a safari boat docked off the coast of Hulhumalé.

While the suspects were released the next day, police have since assured that they will run “uninfluenced” and impartial investigations into the case, after drawing public criticism for their actions.

The case has churned public outcry, with a number of social media users calling for justice and fair investigations into the case, believed by many to be swayed by influence.

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

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

Further, Villimalé constituency MP Ahmed Usham has sought from the National Integrity Commission (NIC) to run investigations to identify whether police actions regarding the case were in accordance with the legal mandate.