HRCM monitors police probe into Maduvvari rape case

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has begun probing the investigation being run by relevant authorities in the case of a minor falling victim to gang-rape in Maduvvari island of Raa atoll.

In a Twitter post, HRCM revealed that they have begun collecting the required data to monitor how relevant authorities are carrying out investigations into the rape case.

HRCM has begun monitoring the investigation after the case shook the nation since making the spotlight over the past week.

The case of a group of men including a teacher at Maduvvari School and a police officer, gang-raping a 14-year-old girl sparked outrage across the island community and a large crowd of infuriated residents created unrest outside of the police station in the island, demanding the arrest of the suspects on Wednesday night.

Police received reports of the sexual assault on the minor which took place on March 3, over a week later on March 11. The victim has since been taken under the protection of the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services, after providing a statement of the abuse to the authorities.

It has been reported that the minor was led to a house under the false pretense that she had “unfinished school work” and two masked men were present with the teacher -who was also masked- at the location the victim was lured into.

Sources cited the victim having stated that one of the men was dressed in police uniform. The men threatened to kill her entire family should she tell anyone what happened, before she was forced to down a glass of “juice”. The child is to have said that she was aware that she was being tied up while she was passing out.

While the rape is to have occurred a fortnight back, the child suffers immense mental trauma from the abuse. As such, she evidently exhibits traumatized behavior such as crying, screaming and avoiding social interactions. The victim was also treated at the island hospital.

HRCM has stressed on the importance of state institutions abiding by the law and strengthen measures to ensure safety of such victims, in connection to such cases, in order to prevent incidents as such from repeating. The institution has since reaffirmed that they will recommend the required amendments to the system in order to prevent such incidents from repeating, to state institutions tasked with enforcing them.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has since assured that required action will be taken after they complete investigations into the case.

Once the victim came forth to exploit her abusers, she had been consulted with a doctor at the island’s health center as well as specialists at the regional hospital to identify signs of abuse. Police had also taken her to a psychiatrist in order to carry out an assessment on her mental health following the abuse, in order to complete the required procedures for the investigation.

The police institution went on to reveal that they are currently taking statements from several sources including social media reports in order to collect evidence. MPS is also collaborating with the Family and Child Protection Service to ensure the victim’s safety.

While the case churned outrage over the entire island, police arrested 10 in connection to the unrest outside of the police station after the case surfaced. The island community has been creating chaos since, calling to arrest the suspects and release the 10 arrested for damaging government property and assaulting police officers during the unrest.