Man arrested for sexual abuse of young stepdaughter

A suspect has been arrested for the sexual abuse of a girl under the age of 18 years in northern Maldives.

Police identified the suspect as a 33-year-old Maldivian male.

A police spokesperson said the suspect was remanded in custody of police for 10 days.

Sun has been informed that the victim is a 13-year-old girl, and the suspect is her stepfather.

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

Those with information regarding crimes against children are urged to call the Maldives Police Service’s Family and Child Protection Department at 3000600 or the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services’ helpline 1412.