Female tourist arrested for wearing bikini on Maldives beach

A woman has been dragged off a beach by police after being accused of “indecent exposure” in an area popular with tourists.

A female tourist in the Maldives was arrested and dragged away by three police officers for wearing a bikini on a beach.

The woman was believed to be Cecilia Jastrzembska, 26, who appeared on British reality shows First Dates and Ninja Warrior UK.

READ MORE: Woman fined for wearing string bikini on Boracay beach

A video circulating on social media shows the woman being detained by officers on the island of Maafushi, in the Kaafu atoll, The Sun reported.

The woman was arrested on the island of Maafushi in the Maldives. Picture: MV Crisis/PA Wire

She repeatedly shouts “You are sexually assaulting me” as police struggle to put her in handcuffs.

Another man covers part of her body with a towel as she is led away from the area.

Cecilia Jastrzembska was on the UK show First Dates. Picture: Channel 4

Following her arrest, Maldives Police Service Commissioner Mohamed Hameed issued a public apology to the woman, saying the incident appeared to have been “badly handled” by officers.

Police took issue with her bikini: MV Crisis/PA Wire

According to the country’s local news service, Raajje.mv, the woman was arrested shortly after 5pm local time on Thursday for “indecent exposure”.

It reported that police suspected the woman to be “under the influence of alcohol”.

She was dragged off the beach. Picture: MV Crisis/PA Wire

Mr Hameed said in a Twitter post: “Incident in Maafushi in which our officers restrained a female tourist seems to be badly handled.

“I apologise to the tourist & the public for this. The challenge I have taken up is to professionalise the police service & we are working on that.

“This matter is being investigated.”

Maldives police issued a public apology to the woman, saying the incident appeared to have been ‘badly handled’ by officers. Picture: MV Crisis/PA Wire

Tourists visiting holiday resorts in the Maldives are allowed to wear swimwear on the islands. However, local islands ban bikinis and skimpy clothing, being an Islamic country.

The official advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade states: “Standards of dress and behaviour are conservative in Male and non-resort islands. Dress modestly in Malé and non-resort islands. Take care not to offend.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission