Man sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexual abuse of young girl

The High Court overturned a previous acquittal issued by a lower court on Monday, sentencing a man to 15 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a young girl he holds a position of authority over.

Ibrahim Shujau, Five Star, Dh. Kudahuvadhoo, had previously been issued an acquittal by the Kudahuvadhoo Magistrate Court citing lack of sufficient evidence.

The decision was appealed by the State with the High Court, which issued its ruling in the case this Monday.

The High Court overturned the Kudahuvadhoo Court’s decision, ruling that there is sufficient evidence to prove the charge against Shujau.

Shujau was charged under Article 9 (b) of Special Provisions Act to Deal with Child Sex Abuse Offenders, with reference to Article 9 (a) of the Act.

Article 9 (Sexual act carried out by a person in a position of trust): 

(a) It is an offence for a person in a trustable position to a child, to engage in a sexual act with the child.

 (b) Offence prescribed in (a) of this section shall be punishable with imprisonment for a period between 15 years and 18 years.

High Court said in its ruling that based on how the victim described the sexual abuse, and based on what she told of the sexual abuse to her mother and the authorities, and described the incident in various settings, there weren’t any conflicts to cast sufficient doubt over the statements.

The victim was nine years at the time of the crime, and the abuser’s stepdaughter.