The remand of a suspect involved in the case of a prostitution ring operated through a Telegram channel, has been extended.
The Maldives Police Service (MPS) launched a special operation 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’.
Arrested in connection with the case were a 28-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man.
Their remand was ordered by the Criminal Court earlier.
RaajjeMV understands that the 28-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman are a married couple.
The 60-year-old was arrested on 30 March 2024. He was allegedly the taxi driver used to facilitate the prostitution ring being operated on a Telegram channel, under different names of ‘Jazeera’.
The woman’s remand period expired on Friday and she was presented to the court to extend her remand.
After the police sought an extension of her remand, the suspect is to have requested to speed up the trial, as she was employed.
Her remand was extended by another 15 days.
Further investigations are currently underway in connection with the case.
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 to transfer customers.
