Two accused of sexually assaulting toddler, one of negligence

Two out of the three arrested following the sexual assault inflicted on a two-year-old toddler from Kanduhulhudhoo are accused of committing the inhumane act while the other is accused of negligence, revealed the Maldives Police Service (MPS).

This was revealed during a press conference held by the police, jointly with the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services on Saturday afternoon.

Although details of the accused were not revealed, RaajjeMV understands that the father is accused of negligence while the other two are accused of assaulting the two-year-old.

The 82-year-old great grandfather of the victim has a previous criminal record as a child sex offender, revealed the police who went on to add that there are no such records for the other two. As such, a similar case was lodged against the elder during 2018 as well, revealed authorities.

Police however, did not reveal why the child sex offender was not probed when the case made the spotlight then.

Police, via a statement on Friday, said that the girl’s 82-year-old great-grandfather has a record of sexual abuse allegations while her grandfather, 62, is suspected of assaulting her.

While the case was reported to authorities on 15 January, all three were arrested on Friday.

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

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. They have been calling for the resignation of Gender Minister Shidhatha Shareef, who claims that she has confidence in herself to ensure child rights are protected.