Man accused of raping 11-year-old girl jailed pending outcome of trial

The Criminal Court, on Saturday, issued an order for the man arrested for raping an 11-year-old girl to be remanded in custody of the police pending the outcome of his trial.

Anees Hilmy, 38, from Silsilaage in H. A. Baarah is accused of taking an 11-year-old girl to a guesthouse in Male’ City and raping her.

The rape was reported to Maldives Police Service on June 10, and Anees was arrested from his residence in connection to the case at approximately 10:13 pm on June 12.

Following his arrest, Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed requested Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem to file a motion with the court to hold Anees in jail pending the outcome of his trial.

The request was made under Article 30 of Special Provisions Act to Deal with Child Sex Offenders, and had marked the first time for such a request to be made in five years.

The Prosecutor General’s Office had requested the order from Criminal Court at Anees’ first remand hearing, which was held last Saturday, June 13, but were denied the request due to failure to produce some necessary documents. The Criminal Court instead issued an order for him to be remanded to custody of police for seven days.

Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem told Sun at the time that his office planned on filing the request again when it petitions for an extension to the remand period.

Anees’ second remand hearing was held this Saturday, and Maldives Police Service has issued a statement confirming the Criminal Court has issued an order for him to be remanded in custody of the police pending the outcome of his trial.

Investigators have found evidence Anees had groomed his 11-year-old victim prior to the rape.

Child Rights Protection Act, which took effect on February 20, establishes grooming a child for sex as a criminal offense, punishable by 10 to 15 years in prison.

Grooming is defined in the Act as when someone builds an emotional connection with a child or young person by offering money or other enticements so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.

The Act holds anyone who grooms a child for sex criminally liable – whether it’s the mother, father, guardian, or anyone else who holds a position of authority over a child.

Maldives Police Service has warned it will take action against people who commit sexual offenses against children, people who blackmail and rape children, and people who groom children and force them to commit criminal acts to the full extent of the law.