Following investigations into the sexual assault of a toddler- almost two years of age from Kanduhulhudhoo island in Gaaf Alif atoll- the child's father has been released from police custody.

The father was released on Monday at 14:30 pm following discissions with the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO), revealed authorities.

While the father was accused of negligence, the two-year-old’s grandfather and great grandfather are accused of raping the child and was arrested on January 17th. The toddler’s mother was in capital city Malé due to health issues when this case emerged. Sources report that the parents are drug users and police have confirmed that they have criminal records.

Posts circulating of social media have revealed that the child’s aunt had apparently attempted to take the two-year-old under care when her mother left, however, the father had refused. Her injuries and wounds were discovered after she told her aunt about pain in her private parts, upon which her aunt took her to the hospital and got her consulted with a doctor.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has urged the relevant authorities to provide swift justice to the perpetrators of this inhumane act.