Chinese student accuses hotel butler of sexual assault at luxury 5-star resort in the Maldives
- Student, who was travelling alone, says Chinese Embassy in the Maldives told her they had urged local authorities to investigate
- Member of staff from 5-star resort where alleged attack took place confirms to the Post that a police investigation is underway
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The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands resort where the Chinese woman alleges she was attacked. Photo: Ritz-Carlton Maldives
A Chinese student has accused a hotel butler of subjecting her to a horrific sexual assault during her stay at a five-star holiday resort in the Maldives.
The victim, who was travelling alone, took to social media to detail her ordeal and said that the Chinese Embassy in the Indian Ocean island state had emailed her to say they had urged the local authorities to investigate.
The alleged sexual assault and attempted rape took place two weeks ago at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands resort.
A member of the Ritz-Carlton’s marketing team in the Maldives, who declined to give her name, confirmed to the Post that a police investigation into the woman’s allegations was underway but declined to comment further.
The Maldives is a popular holiday destination for Chinese and other Asian tourists. Photo: Getty Images
Local media outlet, The Press, has reported that no arrests have been made.
The alleged victim told of her ordeal in graphic detail on her Twitter and Xiaohongshu social media accounts on June 18, even naming and posting a photograph of her alleged attacker.
She also posted what appeared to be documents from the Maldives police and a health centre near the resort in Male Atoll, to substantiate her allegations about the attack which took place on June 11.
The woman said her alleged attacker came into her room to lend her his mobile phone – after she accidentally broke hers – at which point the alleged assault began.
An aerial view of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands resort. Photo: Ritz-Carlton Maldives
The alleged victim immediately alerted hotel staff and claimed some items were removed from the scene before police arrived.
She said the police took swabs from her mouth, plus the items the resort had removed from the scene and told her to return to Australia where she is studying.
The alleged victim, who has since returned to Australia, called on the Maldives authorities to ensure justice was done and requested an apology from the resort.
