Anil: Ministry confirmed Ibthihaal was in a safe environment

Acting Minister of Law and Gender, Attorney General Mohamed Anil has said that the ministry, upon being informed of the abuse, investigated the matter and confirmed that Mohamed Ibthihaal was living in a safe environment.

The Attorney General's comments come at a time of public outrage following the death of three-year-old Ibthihaal allegedly following physical abuse inflicted by the mother, in Vaavu Rakeedhoo yesterday.

Anil said that Ibthihaal was not living with his mother but with a relative of the mother when ministry officials visited the island for the investigation, and that the mother was advised by the officials to continue to keep Ibthihaal in the relative’s care.

He said that the matter would nonetheless be further investigated, and action would be taken against anyone found guilty of negligence.

Anil also denied reports that the mother was cautioned and Ibthihaal was returned to her by the officials.

“These reports are false. He was not handed over to the mother. He was not living with the mother when our team visited the island. He was in a safe environment. But we acknowledge that the situation was not properly monitored afterwards, which resulted in the child being returned to the mother,” Anil said .

Ibthihaal was found dead in the living room in his house at around 11:45 p.m. yesterday.

His mother had been accused of abuse and given advice by the island council on multiple occasions. Ibthihaal’s father is unknown, and the woman has two other children from another marriage.