Police have said that they are investigating a case of sexual abuse in Gaaf Alif Maamendhoo and not rape as reported.

A man in the island was arrested under a court order on Friday night over the alleged sexual assault of an 18-year-old woman.

The police media officer said told RaajjeMV that they are investigating the incident where the man had allegedly groped the young woman.

Maamendhoo Council President Mohamed Zaeem told RaajjeMV that the assault occurred early Friday morning on a dark road as the victim was returning home from a shop.

Zaeem said that rumors in the island implicate four men in the assault and that a police team arrived in Maamendhoo to investigate.

The victim was treated in the Maamendhoo health center and the Gaaf Alif Atoll Hospital and has since been released.