One more suspect involved in the case of a prostitution ring on a Telegram channel, has been arrested.
The Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that the additional arrest was made on 30 March 2024.
The 60-year-old man was allegedly the taxi driver used to facilitate the prostitution ring being operated on a Telegram channel, under different names of ‘Jazeera’.
He was remanded for a 15-day period upon being presented to the Criminal Court.
A second 15-day remand was also slapped on him.
Further investigations are currently underway in connection with the case.
A special operation was launched in connection with complaints of illegal activities on Telegram channels and on March 6, the police had taken over the channels titled ‘Jazeera Admin’, ‘Jazeera Girls’, ‘Jazeera Escort Gallery’, ‘Jazeera Scam Alert’ and ‘Jazeera Link News Channel’.
Initially, a 28-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman were arrested in connection with the case.
The suspects have also been remanded.
MPS revealed that although the accused were not employed, they had made a lot of transactions on their bank accounts.
The police institution further clarified that one of the suspects has a criminal record.
Several people are alleged to be involved in the prostitution ring that was being operated on Telegram channels and more than MVR two million was circulated from each of their accounts, according to police.
Police went on to reveal that women have been active in the country as well as abroad, to run the prostitution ring and one taxi was used for this purpose.
