Alleged child sex predator commits suicide at Maafushi Prison

A man jailed at the Maafushi Prison pending the outcome of his trial in a child sexual abuse case has committed suicide by hanging.

Maldives Correctional Service said that Abdul Ghanee Ismail, 62, G. Ehtheyomaage, K. Male’, was found hanging in his jail cell at 06:52 am Tuesday. He was rushed to the Maafushi Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at 07:21 am.

Correctional Service said that Abdul Ghanee had been ordered to jail pending the outcome of his trial for the sexual abuse of a child.

A spokesperson from the Home Ministry told Sun that Ghanee’s cell was located in Unit 11 of the Maafushi Prison.

According to the spokesperson, Ghanee was detained in March for the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl.

The spokesperson added that he had a pre-existing criminal record.

Correctional Service said that it immediately notified Ghanee’s family of his death, as well as Inspector of Correctional Service, the police, the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM), and the National Integrity Commission (NIC) – as required in cases of custodial deaths.

The Correctional Service’s Professional Standards has also opened an internal investigation into the death.