Safari rape case: Victim refused to consult with a doctor

Police have said that the victim in the safari rape case had initially refused to see a doctor after saying that she was not raped.

Senior officials of police were summoned to a meeting of the parliament’s Committee on Gender and Human Rights today.

Speaking in the Committee, the In-charge officer of the Hulhumale’ Police Station Mohamed Rasheed said, “When police attended the scene (on Friday night) the victim said that the accused were refusing to hand over her phone. That she had attended the safari at 23:00 upon an invitation from a friend and returned. That the accused had her phone and were not returning it.” Said Rasheed.

Rasheed said that during the ordeal, the woman had claimed that she was raped, which is why the two individuals in the case were arrested. Rasheed also said that the woman was taken to the police station separately from the accused, and did not have any documents with her when she was taken.

“She was taken to the hospital after being taken to Male’ to her residence to obtain documents. She provided excuses against consulting with a doctor. The victim consulted with a doctor afterward. The report has also been received.” Said Rasheed.

She questioned why she was to consult with a doctor and kept repeating that she was not faced with a situation that required her to consult with a doctor, according to Rasheed.

He added that it was explained to the victim that it was necessary for the investigation. Rasheed said that even though time had been spent to consult with a doctor, it was not enough for evidence to be affected.

Speaking in the meeting, Chief Inspector of police Mariyam Azma who is leading the investigation into the case said, “It was portrayed as a rape in the media. We looked at it from the victim’s perspective. It may have been difficult for her to speak due to the time and situation. Because it was the initial stages, it may have been difficult for her to speak, so we brought her back.”

Azma said that the victim was surprised at the account circulating on social media. 

“She was very concerned. She didn’t know how it had gone to the media. She categorically denied that it was rape. That she was groped and touched without consent. That was the extent of it.” Said Azma.

Azma said that she herself had questioned the victim and said that what was being reported on the media was not true.

The victim said that she wanted to bring charges against the online newspaper for publishing her photo and spreading false versions of the account. She requested to remove the report.

Police were working to attain the victim her rights. 

“The victim is affected even today by the accounts on a media, that publicized her personal information. The whole public thinks about her differently. She finds it difficult to walk on the streets.” Said police.

Police actions regarding the case are being investigated by the Professional Standard Command (PSC), Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) and National Integrity Commission (NIC).

The victim was summoned to the NIC yesterday and will attend the HRCM tomorrow. The Parliamentary Committee also wished to speak with her. 

“We don’t think that there is any other way an individual can be revictimized. We are concerned that the victim is being summoned to so many institutions, and explain the same thing.” Said police.