Resort employee allegedly rapes Chinese student at Maldives resort

SHAH ALAM - A 26-year-old Chinese student from Australia was raped during her stay at a resort in the Maldives on June 6.

The alleged perpetrator is believed to be a resort employee who worked as a butler for the victim.

The victim, Xu Yitong, also shared pictures of her assault, a photo of the accused, and a copy of the complaint filed with the Maldivian police to substantiate her allegations.

Xu said the butler was sent to her room after she sought help from the front desk regarding her alleged waterlogged phone.

"He came and allowed me to use his phone with my sim to speak to my mother," Xu explained.

The hotel staff then sat on the bed and asked suspicious questions about Xu, including where she had slept the previous night.

This made her realise that he had been observing her.

After briefly leaving the room, he returned and showed her a WeChat text from her mother, continuing to engage in conversation.

During their conversation, the butler chewed gum and asked the victim if she wanted to kiss him, which made her uncomfortable.

She expressed her dislike for physical contact, and to ensure he understood, she translated her response using her computer.

Xu further described how the resort staff attempted to pressure her into having sex by saying that there was no need to be ashamed, but when she resisted, the butler forcibly kissed her.

He then proceeded to assault Xu sexually.

After the incident, Xu underwent a medical examination at a health centre in Maldives, where forensic evidence was collected for the investigation.

The examination aimed to validate the Xu's claims and provide crucial evidence in the pursuit of justice.

However, Xu expressed dissatisfaction with the hotel's response, stating, "I was then told to leave the hotel as soon as possible. They claimed it was a police matter involving buttler and not the hotel. They refused to arrange my accommodation, and there was no apology."

In a Twitter thread, Xu accused the hotel managers of fabricating a narrative to secure a free stay, concluding her post with photos related to the assault.

The Maldivian police have initiated an investigation into the allegations and confirmed that relevant samples have been collected for analysis.

As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.

This distressing incident has once again highlighted concerns about tourist safety and security in the Maldives.