Sports host Naappe and three others arrested for alleged child exploitation

Popular media personality Nafiu ‘Naappe’ Rasheed and three others have been arrested from Male’ on suspicion of child exploitation.

Naappe is a popular sports host, especially known for his work hosting the annual Baibalaa tournament.

According to the police, the four suspects were arrested in a raid on an apartment in the Henveiru district of Male’ City on Monday morning.

They were identified as:

• Ibrahim Shinan Ahmed, 33, H. Finikuri, K. Male’
• Nafiu Rasheed, 39, Silver Star, V. Rakeedhoo
• Luhan Saeed, 41, Paris, GDh. Vaadhoo
• Ali Ashraf, 35, M. Ethumaa, K. Male’

Of the four suspects, Shinan had previously worked as a state attorney, but appears to have left the Attorney General’s Office in 2023.

According to the police, the victims in the case are two girls aged 17, a boy aged 16, and another aged 17. However, the police have not disclosed any details regarding this, including the nature of the exploitation, or if the victims were also found at the scene.

During the raid, the police also found a rubber packet containing a suspected narcotic substance. Meanwhile, preliminary urine tests on all four suspects came back positive for drugs.

They were presented before the Criminal Court for their remand hearing on Tuesday.

The police said that all four suspects were remanded in custody for three days.

The case is under further investigation by the police.