Maldivian arrested in Lanka child sex trafficking sting; accused of being a customer, aiding network
Local media reports that arrested is Mohamed Ashmalee; former chairman of Dhiraagu as well as a former state
The case involves the sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl at Mount Lavinia
A Maldivian is among the four suspects arrested by Sri Lankan police on Sunday, in connection to a child sex trafficking ring in Mount Lavinia.
According to Lankan news reports, the case involves the sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl in Mount Lavinia through social media.
While the main suspects in the network are to have been arrested on June 7, two suspects were arrested on Saturday for publishing an advertisement on a website. In addition to the main website used to promote the child for sex in exchange for cash, four other websites have also been identified.
A total of 32 suspects have been arrested in connection to the child sexual trafficking ring including the girl’s mother, with an additional 12 suspects identified as having committed statutory rape.
While Lankan authorities confirmed that a Maldivian is among the suspects arrested on Sunday, local media reports that this is Mohamed Ashmalee; former chairman of Dhiraagu as well as a former state minister.
He has been identified as a customer, according to Lankan authorities, and faces charges of aiding the sex trafficking ring as well.
In addition to the victim’s mother, those arrested include a three-wheeler driver, a car driver, the individual who designed the advertisement, a gem businessman, a captain of a ship and several crew members, and the Deputy-Chairman of the Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha.
The 15-year-old girl had been exploited for three months, and had been handed over to various people to be exploited.
