Mob attack on Vilingili man sparks protest

Residents of GA. Vilingili staged a protest on Monday, after a man from Vilingili on vacation in K. Dhiffushi was attacked by a mob following allegations he sexually abused a young girl from the island.

Mohamed Shiham, 35, was visiting Dhiffushi when was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl and attacked by an angry mob on Thursday, July 14.

He is currently being treated in the ICU of ADK Hospital in Male’ City.

Vilingili Council’s president Vishal Mohamed said Vilingili residents don’t believe the allegation against Shiham, and based on what happened, believe the attack on him to be “an act of terrorism” by Dhiffushi residents in collaboration with police.

“The police officer told Shiham he would leave the island on a stretcher. That he would fall under their grasp after escaping the mob. This is unacceptable. The doctors in the hospital said he wouldn’t receive any treatment from there. The electricity was cut off when he was in the hospital and he was dragged out from there and beaten again. Words fail to explain this atrocity,” he said.

Vishal said he found the unjust attack on a Vilingili resident unacceptable.

He said the protests would continue until the “terrorists” involved in the attack were brought to justice.

Shiham claimed one of four police officers dispatched to contain the mob refused to assist him and verbally abused him.

“There was a police sergeant there. A man of huge stature. I think he’s from Thulusdhoo. He told me not to think I could do whatever I wanted. That it was their neighborhood, their region. That I would leave the island on a stretcher. That I would go straight under their grasp. That he would teach me a lesson. This is what the people who came to protect me said,” said Shiham, who is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of ADK Hospital in Male’ City.

A police spokesperson confirmed the Professional Standards Command was investigating an allegation that one of the police officers dispatched to protect the man injured in the mob attack failed to fulfil his duty and acted in violation of disciplinary standards.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old has been arrested for attacking a police officer dispatched to stop the mob.