Mohamed Nabeel, who has been slammed for posting videos on social media platform TikTok while crossdressing and posing as a woman, has been released from police custody.
Nabeel, 39, was arrested under a court order on 4 May 2024 for posting videos of himself on social media platform TikTok crossdressing and posing as a woman, in clear violation of general social norms in the Maldives, a “100” percent Muslim country.
The Maldives Police Service (MPS) is currently investigating the case further.
When he was initially presented to the Criminal Court for his remand hearing, he was jailed for 15 days.
At the first remand hearing, Nabeel stated that he posts such videos under his right to freedom of expression.
His remand expired in late May and was extended for another 15 days and expired on June 4.
However, authorities did not present him before the judges’ bench for a remand extension.
He has since been released from police custody.
After being released, Nabeel has been taking to TikTok, publicly on live streams admitting that he has always been interested in crossdressing.
Speaking to RaajjeMV, a media official at MPS revealed that talks were underway to file charges against Nabeel.
The media official added that discussions were underway with the Prosecutor General's Office to complete the investigation and file a chargesheet.
The man was sentenced to one year behind bars back on 22 September 2022 in a similar case.
After completing his prison sentence, the man returned to making TikTok videos that are generally deemed offensive to the public.
This had in turn churned public outcry, with several pouring out onto social media voicing concern over the lack of action against the man.
Following this, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan took to ‘X’ to announce that probes have been launched in connection with the videos the 39-year-old has been uploading on social media.
Nabeel faced two counts of charges earlier including one count of making pornographic content, which was proved against him at court and he was sentenced to one year behind bars. The second is a count of possessing pornographic materials and content, which was proven against him and he was given a one-month and six-day sentence.
