One person connected to the "Jazeera" Telegram group has been sentenced to four years in prison.
He was accused of promoting drugs and prostitution on the groups "Jazeera", "Jazeera Girls" and "Jazeera Escort Gallery."
Username "Jazeera Admin" on Telegram was in charge of all these groups. Police seized the groups in March 2024.
Ibrahim Rasheed and two others were arrested in connection with the case. They are Nishany Ali and Aisar Naseem. They were charged in June 2024.
The Prosecutor General's (PG) office raised four charges against Ibrahim Rasheed. They are distributing pornographic images, money laundering, aiding and abetting prostitution and using the proceeds of prostitution.
He was convicted of money laundering and aiding and abetting prostitution and signed a plea agreement with the PG office.
He received a punishment of one year and six months in prison for aiding and abetting prostitution and two years and six months in prison for money laundering. He was also fined MVR 462, 637.61.
There were 6,529 members in the "Jazeera" group when it was taken under police control.
Aside from various types of drugs, the group also advertised and sold nude photos and videos. Prostitution had also been advertised.
The group most commonly advertised party drugs and types of cannabis, the most widely used drug in the Maldives.
