Suspect jailed pending trial’s end for sexual assault of man with disabilities

A 57-year-old man has been jailed pending the outcome of his trial following his arrest for the sexual assault of a man with disabilities.

The sexual assault was reported to the police from an island in southern Maldives on April 14.

The police arrested the suspect, identified as a 57-year-old Maldivian man, on Wednesday, September 11.

He was presented before a court for his remand hearing on Thursday, September 12. The court ordered him jailed pending the outcome of his trial.

The police said that given the nature of the victim’s disabilities, the police are treating the case as a sexual assault on a minor - as required by law.

Crimes against children are treated by the police as serious offenses. The law enforcement agency does not disclose the island where such crimes take place in order to protect the identity of victims.