Police investigate sexual abuse of 10-year-old girl in central Maldives

Maldives Police Service, on Thursday, announced it has launched an investigation into the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl in central Maldives.

The crime took place in an island in the North Central Division (K. Atoll, A. A. Atoll, A. Dh. Atoll, and V. Atoll).

It was reported to the police on Wednesday.

According to the police, the suspect in the case is a person who holds a position of authority over the victim.

The police have not made an arrest as of yet.

“The case is under investigation by the police,” said a police spokesperson.

Special Provisions Act to Deal with Child Sex Offenders sets out special provisions to deal with child sex offenders both at investigative and trial stages.

It prescribes a prison sentence of 15 to 18 years, if the person who carried out the offense is in a position of authority over the victim.

Maldives Police Service has stressed that sexual offenses against children are treated by the agency as serious crimes, and urge against the spread of any information which could reveal the identity of child victims.

The case is the latest in a string of crimes of sexual violence, often involving child victims.