Seven arrested for prostitution from a spa in Hulhumale'

Police have raided a prostitution business run under the guise of a spa in Hulhumale' with a court order, arresting seven.

Police said that the place had been searched in an operation run in relation to reports received by Police Intelligence that prostitution was being run from the premises.

The seven arrested included a Maldivian man, three Maldivian women, and three women from Thailand.

When taken to Hulhumale' Magistrate Court, the three Thai women have been placed in remand in custody for ten days, and the Maldivian women for seven. The man was also placed in custody for five days.

While many spas are operated in Male', there have been rising concerns that a number of these are actually covers for prostitution. Advertisements are also posted on social media by expatriates engaging in prostitution.

Police, as well as Immigration, have conducted operations even previously to identify and close down such businesses, with those involved taken into detention.

As such, six persons were arrested for prostitution even earlier this month.