The lawyers representing the victim of the safari sexual assault case, revealed on Monday that the alleged misconduct of Maldives Police Service's investigative officers was lodged at the National Integrity Commission (NIC).
Shafeea Riza and Noorban Fahmy, the legal representatives of the Kenyan woman who was sexually assaulted in June aboard a safari docked at Hulhumale' lagoon, have accused the police of attempting to tamper with the statement provided by the victim.
On Tuesday, the two lawyers welcomed NIC's decision to register their complaints and take their statements regarding the matter.
They first raised concerns over the police's actions on October 11, alongside a video which depicts investigation officers discussing the omission of portions of the victim's official statement, and mocking her lawyers.
Shafeea earlier stated that the misconduct has been filed with the police and Prosecutor General's Office, in addition to NIC.
On Tuesday, Noorbaan revealed that the lawyers were still awaiting word from Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed regarding the police's response to the complaints.
Having shared with @NICgovmv about the multiple misconduct of @PoliceMv during the investigation of the #SafariRapeCase by the IOs, we remain confident that NIC will take the necessary action. @Noorbaan https://t.co/DEpxG11jGC
— Shafeea Riza (@ShafeeaRiza) October 13, 2020
Following the initial allegations, the police issued a statement on Monday asserting that the video in question only showed investigators discussing a statement, collected through Skype, during the process of drafting the written document.
Stating that it was common practice for investigators to discuss testimonies for clarity purposes, the police maintained that the process could not be considered tampering.
Furthermore, the police noted that victims and their legal representatives would be shown a copy of the written statement and given the chance to make changes prior to approving it with their fingerprint and signature.
Riza and Co LLP is extending legal assistance to the 27-year-old victim on a pro bono basis with consideration to the prevalence of sexual offences in Maldives and the lack of public confidence in official government channels concerning such crimes.
The victim was reportedly invited aboard the safari by a friend, and was later sexually harassed and assaulted by two men. After the woman jumped off the vessel in an effort to escape, she was picked up by a dinghy and transported to the jetty.
The two men, both aged 39, were arrested at the scene. However, they were later released with the authorities claiming, based on the information collected, that detaining them until the investigation concluded would be unnecessary.
Although initial reports by local media state that the victim was raped aboard the vessel, and that authorities released the suspects after phone calls from "people high up", the police maintain that the victim was harassed and not raped.
Mendhuru Online, the local media outlet that first reported the incident as rape, has issued an apology over misinformation in their account of the case and removed the article from their website.
In a later interview published by local media outlet Mihaaru, the victim reportedly stated that she did not wish to press charges, that she did not have complaints regarding the police investigation, and that she had not spoken to any media outlets prior to Mihaaru.
Several members of the public have expressed skepticism over the aforementioned interview, citing the parallels between initial media reports and official police statements as well as the accounts claiming that the woman was intimidated, threatened with deportation and presented with bribes.
Authorities came under fire by the public for releasing the suspects at such an early stage of the investigation, and withholding information about the alleged perpetrators. Negative public opinion was further stoked by rumours that one of the alleged suspects is connected to politicians serving in the incumbent administration.
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