"Case was overlooked because the youth was 18, now he is under state custody": Minister

The Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services has stated that the case of the special needs youth under the legal guardianship of Ahmed Hishan came to the ministry's attention at the end of 2017.

According to the ministry, the mentally-disabled youth was 18 at the time the case came to light, hence, the ministry determined to deal with the case according to the regulations set for adults.

Further, the ministry states that the case was first taken to court in 2017 as well, when the mother of the special needs youth submitted a request at the Family Court to transfer the legal guardianship of the 18-year-old youth to Hishan.

Moreover, the ministry said that there had not been any type of psychological or health assessment of a special needs adult conducted in relation to any case at the Family Court at that time. However, the ministry highlights that the report prepared on the youth concluded that "the victim is 18 years of age and is mentally-sound based on all information available".

While more information regarding the case surfaced in July 2018, the ministry claimed that the youth was afforded the freedom given to every citizen over 18 years of age because the case had not been reviewed since then. Furthermore, the youth continues to live with Hishan at his apartment out of the youth's own accord with the approval of his family including his own mother, said the ministry.

As such, the ministry stated that serious child abuse allegations against Hishan are currently being investigated by the police, therefore, the ministry will conduct all necessary assessments with the assistance of the relevant authorities to determine if the youth is mentally-sound enough to give consent.

Additionally, the ministry claimed that the administration's policy is to review and take swift action in any cases where authorities have been negligent in the past.

The Disability Act of Maldives (Law No. 8/2010) states that all disabled persons must be protected from abuse, abuse of cruelty, harassment or being taken advantage of from both within and outside their households. The law also mandates the state to prevent abuse against the disabled, raise awareness, establish more accessible reporting mechanisms in addition to taking all the necessary action to bring justice, give treatment and assistance to all disabled victims.