Police have arrested a Maldivian man for sexually abusing a three-year-old child and recording the act.
In a message to the media, the police identified the suspect as a 28-year-old Maldivian male. Authorities stated that the incident occurred on an island within the South Central Police Division.
The suspect was apprehended under a court warrant. Upon being presented to the court for a remand hearing, he was ordered to be detained in custody for 30 days.
Sexual abuse remains the most prevalent form of violence against children in the Maldives.
According to data released by the Maldives Bureau of Statistics on Saturday, 264 children fell victim to sexual abuse in 2023.
Police records show that 174 cases of sexual offenses have been reported so far this year. The high frequency of such crimes continues to be one of the most significant social issues facing the country.
Research conducted by UNICEF indicates that one in every three girls in the Maldives will experience sexual abuse at least once in her lifetime. Studies further reveal that approximately 15 percent of all children in the Maldives have been victims of sexual abuse.
