Child sexual abuse case: president discusses case with relevant bodies

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has met with officials from government institutions to observe the progress of investigations into the sexual assault case of a two-year-old from Kanduhulhudhoo island, Gaaf Alif atoll.

The meeting took place at the President’s Office on Friday night and was attended by the Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services Shidhatha Shareef, Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla, Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed and other senior officials of the government.

The president "strictly" condemned the inhumane act by the perpetrators and called upon the relevant authorities to swiftly conclude investigations and seek justice for the victim.

While the case was reported to authorities on 15 January, implicated in the rape case of a two-year-old is her father, grandfather and great grandfather. They were arrested of Friday and the 62-year-old grandfather and 81-year-old grandfather have been slapped with 15-day remands and taken to Dhoonidhoo Detention Center.

Police revealed via a statement that they are working in cooperation with the Gender Ministry to probe the case, as a “serious case”.

Further, while the case churned public outcry, protesters took to the streets of capital city Malé and Hulhumalé on Friday, where things sparked out of control. Officers attempting to control the crowd had arrested 27 individuals during the rally out of which 19 currently remain under police custody.