Court orders Hammaadh to be kept in remand until his trial concludes

The Criminal Court of the Maldives has ordered for child rapist Ismail Hammaadh to be kept in remand for the remainder of his trial.

Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) raised charges against Hammaadh, who raped and impregnated a 13-year-old in Maduvvari, Raa atoll, on 26 December. He was charged with sexual harassment of a minor.

While other charges are also expected to be raised against Hammaadh, including rape charges, as the law clearly states the repercussions of “touching a minor with sexual intentions”, the child rapist stands to face a jail term between 10 – 14 years.

The issue of the 13-year-old child bride came into the spotlight after Hammaadh was attacked on a sea-cucumber fishing boat outside of Maalhos island in Alif Alif atoll on November 21. While he was hospitalized until 30 November, he was arrested upon discharge regarding the 13-year-old child bride’s case. While the child is to have given birth since, DNA tests have proven that the child is Hammaadh’s.

The attack on Hammaadh is to have been caused by a “disagreement” with his crewmates, and Ismail Asif, 30, has since been arrested and remanded in connection to the attack.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) began a joint operation with the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) in the island following reports of rising extremism on the island, with the Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed having revealed that there are about 1,400 individuals in the country, “willing to kill” at the slightest provocation. During the operation, a second case of a pregnant 13-year-old child bride emerged, following which authorities have taken the child under their protection.

Earlier, Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem stated that they are “very serious” over such cases and that there is "no joking around."