Police have launched a serious investigation after receiving a list of people who download nude photos and videos of minors.
Chief Inspector of Police Sofwath Rauf told a news conference today that the list had been shared with the Maldives police by foreign agencies that monitor such cases.
“We have now launched an investigation into the case after foreign law enforcement agencies shared information about those who downloaded child pornography from various social media sites,” Sofwat said.
He said one of the cases has now been sent to the Prosecutor General's (PG) office to press charges. A second such case is currently under investigation.
“We are investigating this matter very carefully. The downloading of photos and videos of minors from IDs and mobile numbers belonging to the Maldives by using various social media applications," Sofwath said.
He said the police are working with foreign parties to increase their ability to investigate cases such as blackmailing people using nude videos and other such materials.
“We have already conducted training of police in this area in collaboration with foreign parties this year to enhance that capacity,” he noted.
Sofwath said blackmail cases involving photos or videos taken while married or in a relationship and cases of blackmailing using nude videos leaked through video calls are usually reported to the police.
Cases of rape, forced nude photography and blackmail after inviting to go to guesthouses via social media have risen recently, Sofwath said. The cases are also being investigated, he added.
