A 76-year-old Maldivian man has been arrested in connection to yet another case of sexual assault against a minor.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that they received the report on Wednesday that a toddler, three years of age was victimized by the 76-year-old in a south-central atoll.

As such, officers from the South-Central Police Division brought the man into their custody at 1pm on Wednesday.

While police have since launched further investigations into the case, authorities have revealed that cases involving sexual assault against minors are investigated as serious cases.

Further, authorities refrained from divulging the name of the child and her native island in order to “protect her identity”.

Sexual assault cases have been mounting at an alarming rate of recent and such cases are unfolding more frequently since the disturbing news of a two-year-old toddler who fell victim to sexual assault from close family members, emerged.

As such cases make the spotlight more frequently, it has been churning public outcry across the nation, with many attributing the increase of pedophilia due to inadequate action from authorities.