Police have launched an investigation into the alleged rape a 19 year old woman in a studio in the capital Male.
The victim told Avas that her attacker was a member of a powerful political family who had sexually assaulted her on Wednesday evening when she had visited his studio for an art project.
According to the victim her attacker was also a renowned artist in the country. The teary victim said she had valiantly tried to escape her attacker before she was overpowered and raped.
After the alleged rape, the attacker had offered her MVR16,000 in return for her silence. But immediately after the assault, she had gone to the hospital with the help of some her friend before notifying the police.
Police had taken her statement after the hospital had done the tests and she had detailed her ordeal at the police station until 6.00am the next morning. She said the police had taken her clothing as evidence.
The victim had shared the identity of her attacker but under the defamation law, Avas is unable to reveal the name of the alleged rapist.
Angry family members and friends of the victim had called the attacker who's response reportedly was "I don't care if you report me to the police. There's nothing they [police] can do to me."
The victim also alleged that police are yet to question her attacker over the incident and has now changed his phone number. Police spokesperson confirmed that a rape case had been filed but refused to divulge any further details.
"Somebody needs to speak up against the current rape culture in the Maldives. He needs to pay for what he did. I won't keep quiet. He raped me and I want justice. I'm speaking up for all the sexual assault victims who have been threatened into silence. Just because he's politically well connected or is from a powerful family, he can't get away with what he has done," the brave young woman told Avas.
Sexual assault cases are common in the Maldives but similar to most countries, most cases go unreported.
