This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
Published on June 29, 2020, a disturbing case of rape has sparked outrage in the Maldives. A Kenyan woman was attacked and sexually assaulted by two men on a safari yacht anchored in the greater Male region of Hulhumale.
According to reports, the victim was approached by the two men, aged 39, who asked her to meet them. They then held her by force before one of them committed the heinous crime. The victim managed to escape and swim to the pier, where she screamed for help and was eventually arrested by officers on patrol.
The suspects were taken into custody but were later released unconditionally, sparking widespread outrage within the Maldivian community. Many have expressed a lack of confidence in the police and justice system, with some even alleging that one of the suspects was related to a senior government official.
Former Maldives Gender Minister Aneesa Ahmed questioned the decision to release the suspects, citing concerns that the victim was not taken to the hospital for a rape kit exam. The victim has since been offered $500,000 to drop the charges, but it remains unclear whether she will accept the offer.
Local MP Ahmed Usham, a former Deputy Attorney General, has called on the police to provide satisfactory answers in the face of these serious accusations.
