Prostitution ring: Remand of 12 suspects extended; one released

One out of the 13 suspects arrested during the crackdown on a major-scale prostitution ring has been released from custody while the remand of the remaining twelve suspects has been extended.

The thirteen suspects arrested included eight Bangladeshi males, one Bangladeshi female, and four Thai females.

They were arrested in raids on four locations in Male’ City on the night of May 17^th, in a joint operation by the Police Anti-Human Trafficking Department, Police Intelligence, and Maldives Immigration.

In a hearing at the Criminal Court on Thursday regarding the extension of their remand, the court ordered the release of a 35-year-old Bangladeshi male, citing the lack of additional evidence against him. The court order ordering his release read that the police had not submitted any additional evidence linking him to the crime.

However, he was granted conditional release. The court order indicates that he is married to a Maldivian woman and runs a business in the Maldives.

Meanwhile, the remand of the remaining seven Bangladeshi men was extended by 30 days; the Bangladeshi female by 10 days; the two Thai females by 30 days and the remaining two Thai females by 15 days.

The court order extending their remand states that the expatriates were carrying out prostitution at a place operated as a guesthouse. However, the guesthouse’s license has not yet been suspended, as per the police.