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High Court upholds 15-year sentence against convicted child abuser

Ahmed Aiham
12 November 2020, MVT 16:43
A protestor holding up a sign that reads "who will take responsibility?" in a demonstration held on the streets of Male' City, against all forms of sexual violence and to hold perpetrators and the authorities accountable, on June 29, 2020. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI / MIHAARU
Ahmed Aiham
12 November 2020, MVT 16:43

The High Court on Wednesday, upheld the 15-year jail sentence imposed on a man found guilty of sexually abusing a minor related to him.

He was convicted by a Magistrate Court on October 2018, for sexually abusing a child while being in a position of trust, three years after the incident occurred on an island of Baa Atoll in June 2017.

According to the High Court verdict, forensic evidence corroborates with the victim's and witnesses testimonies, further backed by medical reports indicating the abuse.

The case was presided by High Court Judges Mohamed Niyaz, Mohamed Faisal and Hussain Shaheed.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Criminal Court also sentenced another man to 15 years over sexually abusing a minor related to him.

He was convicted of sexually abusing a child while being in a position of trust, four years after he molested the victim in the woods on an island of Raa Atoll in November 2016.

These verdicts came amidst multiple reports of child sexual abuse, grooming and rape this year, with public outrage soaring over the government's meagre record of arresting and convicting perpetrators of sexual offences despite several promises to support the rights of children and women.

Meanwhile, Maldives Police Service continue to urge the public to report all such cases to the police's Family and Child Protection Wing at +960 3000600 or the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services at 1412.

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