Police find no evidence Arafat used cat meat to prepare meals

Police said on Sunday that their investigation uncovered no evidence the Bangladeshi worker detained in August for running an illegal home-based food business used cat meat to prepare meals for his business.

Arafat Hossain, 32, was detained from Male’ City on August 20.

The case gained public attention following a post on social media on August 19 by local NGO, Feline Welfare Organization.

The animal rights group identified Arafat as an undocumented migrant who works at the Valhoamas Market in Male’ City. It said that he was suspected of “butchering, cooking, eating and selling cat meat.”

Following the post, the Maldives Immigration issued a notice for Arafat to present himself to the agency’s headquarters within five days.

Meanwhile, the allegation that he was killing stray cats and selling cat meat was reported to the police by the Animal Welfare Ministry.

He was taken into police custody from a barber’s shop in Male’ at around 10:32 am August 20, following a tip received by Immigration’s Intelligence Department. He was subsequently transferred to the custody of Immigration as police investigated the allegations.

But on Sunday, a police spokesperson said Arafat had been deported.

The spokesperson said the police investigation did not uncover any evidence he used cat meat to prepare meals.

“The police have concluded their investigation into this case as we found no evidence for a criminal investigation into the suspect arrested in this case,” said the spokesperson.

While the police did not find any evidence he used cat meat as alleged, photos and videos of his residence showed it does not meet hygiene standards.

The case had raised serious questions regarding the implementation of food safety standards.

The case comes amid a crackdown by Maldives Immigration on illegal migration. The authorities have raided multiple locations in the capital as part of the operation, many of them rundown houses where food items sold at stores and cafes and restaurants are prepared in unhygienic environments.